J1 League Gameweek 4
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1 - 2 FT Kyoto Sanga
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Futmetrix Verdict
43
Coventry
vs
Newcastle
Mon, Oct 12 • 19:00 UTC
⚡ Form
47
⚖️ Balance
95
🏆 Stakes
0
⭐ Stars
72
Coventry's survival bid meets Newcastle's inconsistency.
Futmetrix Verdict
83
Al-Wasl FC
vs
Al-Ahli Jeddah
Mon, Oct 12 • 16:00 UTC
⚡ Form
31
⚖️ Balance
82
🏆 Stakes
0
⭐ Stars
66
Early AFC Champions League Elite test.
Futmetrix Verdict
45
Atalanta
vs
Venezia
Mon, Oct 12 • 16:30 UTC
⚡ Form
51
⚖️ Balance
60
🏆 Stakes
0
⭐ Stars
64
Desperate Venezia seek lifeline against Atalanta.
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
Hidehiro Sugai 35'
Rafael Elias 38'
39' H. Araki (N. Arai)
45'+2 Ju-sung Kim
HT
↓ T. Matsuda ↑M. Okugawa 46'
46' ↓ S. Higashi ↑T. Shichi
46' ↓ K. Kinoshita ↑A. Suzuki
60' ↓ N. Arai ↑S. Nakano
↓ K. Sato ↑H. Arai 62'
↓ H. Sugai ↑T. Hirato 63'
69' ↓ R. Germain ↑H. Kawabe
↓ S. Yoon ↑T. Hiraoka 74'
79' ↓ T. Yamasaki ↑Y. Nakajima
Rafael Elias (Marco Tulio) 81'
Taiyo Hiraoka 87'
Henrique Trevisan (H. Arai) 90'
↓ Marco Tulio ↑S. Nagasawa 90'+6
Henrique Trevisan 90'+8
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Goalkeepers
Keisuke Osako 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Tsukasa Shiotani
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Hayato Araki 
TRANSFORMER
1
Goals
1
Goals
8
Aerials Won
1
Tackles
Kim Ju-sung
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
Mutsuki Kato 
PROVOCATEUR
4
Fouls Won
4
Fouls Won
13
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Naoto Arai 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
2
Key Passes
7.7
Rating
Taishi Matsumoto
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Taichi Yamasaki
LATE SHIFT
11
Late Mins
11
Late Mins
79
Total Mins
79
Entry
Shunki Higashi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
Forwards
Ryo Germain
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
69
Total Mins
69
Entry
Kosuke Kinoshita
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
BENCH
Issei Ouchi 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Takaaki Shichi 
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
4%
Pass Acc
Shuto Nakano
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
30
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Daiki Suga
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Hayao Kawabe
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
21
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Motoki Ohara
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yotaro Nakajima
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Akito Suzuki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Sota Nakamura
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kyoto Sanga
Goalkeepers
Gakuji Ota
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Hidehiro Sugai
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
63
Total Mins
63
Entry
Yoshinori Suzuki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Henrique Trevisan 
CLUTCH HERO
90
Goal Time
90
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
8.2
Rating
Midfielders
Shinnosuke Fukuda
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
João Pedro
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Yoon
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
74
Total Mins
74
Entry
Kyo Sato
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
62
Total Mins
62
Entry
Forwards
Marco Túlio
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
2
Key Passes
6.9
Rating
Temma Matsuda
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
Rafael Elias 
CLOSER
1
Late Goals
1
Late Goals
0
Late Assists
75
Minute
BENCH
Kentaro Kakoi
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Kodai Nagata
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Masaya Okugawa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Taiyo Hiraoka
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
16
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Haruki Arai 
SUPER SUB
1
Assist
1
Assist
28
Minutes
7.2
Rating
Mitsuki Saito
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Taiki Hirato
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
27
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Shun Nagasawa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
1
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Alex Negueba
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02/27/2026 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 1 - 2 | Kyoto Sanga | J1 League | Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima |
| 09/12/2025 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 1 - 1 | Kyoto Sanga | J1 League | Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima |
| 03/29/2025 | Kyoto Sanga | 1 - 0 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | J1 League | Sanga Stadium by Kyocera |
| 11/03/2024 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 0 - 1 | Kyoto Sanga | J1 League | Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima |
| 05/19/2024 | Kyoto Sanga | 0 - 5 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | J1 League | Sanga Stadium by Kyocera |
| 09/23/2023 | Kyoto Sanga | 1 - 0 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | J1 League | Sanga Stadium by Kyocera |
| 06/04/2023 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 3 - 1 | Kyoto Sanga | J1 League | EDION Stadium |
| 10/05/2022 | Kyoto Sanga | 1 - 2 (AET) | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | Emperor Cup | Sanga Stadium by Kyocera |
| 07/17/2022 | Kyoto Sanga | 1 - 1 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | J1 League | Sanga Stadium by Kyocera |
| 05/21/2022 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 3 - 1 | Kyoto Sanga | J1 League | EDION Stadium |
02/27/2026
09/12/2025
03/29/2025
11/03/2024
05/19/2024
09/23/2023
06/04/2023
10/05/2022
07/17/2022
05/21/2022
Sanfrecce Hiroshima Win
Kyoto Sanga Win
Draw
League Standings
P: 4 GD: +4
P: 4 GD: +4
P: 4 GD: +3
P: 4 GD: +3
P: 4 GD: +2
P: 4 GD: +2
P: 4 GD: +2
P: 4 GD: +3
P: 4 GD: +2
P: 4 GD: +3
P: 4 GD: +2
P: 4 GD: +1
P: 4 GD: +2
P: 4 GD: +1
P: 4 GD: -1
P: 4 GD: +2
P: 4 GD: -1
P: 4 GD: 0
P: 4 GD: +2
P: 4 GD: -2
P: 4 GD: -1
P: 4 GD: +1
P: 4 GD: -3
P: 4 GD: 0
P: 4 GD: -1
P: 4 GD: -3
P: 4 GD: -1
P: 4 GD: +1
P: 4 GD: -3
P: 4 GD: -5
P: 4 GD: 0
P: 4 GD: -1
P: 4 GD: -1
P: 4 GD: 0
P: 4 GD: -1
P: 4 GD: -2
P: 4 GD: -3
P: 4 GD: -3
P: 4 GD: -3
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Kyoto Sanga
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Kyoto Sanga
Win Probability
Futmetrix AI estimate
A 90th-Minute Stunner Steals the Show in Hiroshima
Highly Entertaining Futmetrix Score: 75/100. A breathless encounter defined by a controversial VAR decision and a ruthless late turnaround that keeps Kyoto Sanga flying high near the top of the table.
The Opening Salvo
Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima turned into a shooting gallery early on as the hosts came out swinging in a true clash of styles. Sanfrecce Hiroshima racked up 10 corners and unleashed a barrage of 21 total shots that continually tested the visitors' resolve. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 39th minute when H. Araki found the back of the net, capitalizing on N. Arai's precise delivery. The Intensity levels spiked right before the break when Ju-sung Kim thought he had doubled the advantage, only for VAR to ruthlessly wipe the goal from the board. That marginal call kept the door slightly ajar for the visitors heading into the tunnel.
Shifting the Tide
After the restart, the dynamic drastically shifted on the pitch. While Sanfrecce generated a staggering 2.33 xG over the 90 minutes, they lacked the killer instinct to put the game to bed. Kyoto Sanga edged possession and began to slowly twist the knife. The visitors maintained an impressive Balance, absorbing the ongoing home pressure before striking back. With just nine minutes left on the clock, Rafael Elias latched onto an incisive feed from Marco Tulio, burying the equalizer and exposing frailties in the home defense. The momentum swung completely in the blink of an eye, turning a comfortable home performance into a desperate scramble.
The Final Blow
The true drama was reserved for the dying moments. Enter substitute H. Arai, who injected fresh chaos into the final third exactly when his side needed it most. In the 90th minute, he floated a perfectly weighted assist for Henrique Trevisan to smash home, completing a stunning heist. This late winner from a draw shattered Sanfrecce's hopes and extended their miserable losing streak. Kyoto Sanga’s smash-and-grab victory proves their credentials in the upper echelons of the J1 League, turning a potential defeat into a massive statement win that keeps them right in the mix.
Key Questions
How did VAR change this match?
VAR cancelled Ju-sung Kim's stoppage-time goal right before the half, preventing Sanfrecce Hiroshima from taking a commanding 2-0 lead and giving Kyoto Sanga a lifeline.
How dramatic was the late winner by Henrique Trevisan?
Incredibly dramatic. He struck in the 90th minute off an assist from substitute H. Arai, snatching all three points just as a draw looked certain.
How did Sanfrecce Hiroshima complete the comeback from behind?
They didn't. Sanfrecce Hiroshima actually scored first, but it was Kyoto Sanga who mounted the comeback, scoring twice late on to win 2-1.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Archive note: this preview was written after the match was played.
Kyoto Sanga's Title Ambitions Face Hiroshima Test
Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 53/100. Kyoto's title push demands three points, but a desperate Hiroshima side looking to break a miserable run could spoil the party.
The Setup
Kyoto Sanga arrives at Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima on February 27, 2026, sitting second in the J1 League and flying high. A strong Form rating reflects their recent surge, fueled by an impressive away record where they often dismantle opponents. The visitors are clicking effortlessly in the final third, reflected by their towering Stars rating. Conversely, Sanfrecce Hiroshima have plummeted to seventh after suffering four losses in their last five games. The Balance of this matchup leans heavily toward the title chasers, but the Stakes remain high for a home side needing a turning point to salvage their fading early-season momentum.
Key Battle
With the home side struggling for defensive consistency, the tactical clash centers squarely on Hiroshima's back line trying to contain Kyoto's rampant forward unit. The visitors are averaging high goal-scoring metrics and boast a menacing attacking front that exploits spaces brilliantly. If Hiroshima’s defensive block cannot disrupt Kyoto's passing rhythm early and close down the channels, it could be a remarkably long afternoon for the home supporters.
Our Prediction
Kyoto Sanga’s firepower and proven away specialists make them heavy favorites. Expect the visitors to dictate the tempo from the opening whistle and capitalize on a fragile Hiroshima defense. Kyoto should secure a comfortable 2-0 victory to keep relentless pressure on the league leaders.