J1 League Gameweek 4

Shimizu S-pulse 0 - 1 FT Kashiwa Reysol

IAI Stadium Nihondaira

Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching

Futmetrix Verdict
23
FT
Sat, Aug 29
日本語
Shimizu S-pulse
0-1
Kashiwa Reysol
⚡ Intensity 8
⚖️ Balance 5
🏆 Stakes 67
🎲 Upset 0
Scrappy own goal decides tight league clash.

Win Probability

  • Shimizu S-pulse 26%
  • Draw 28%
  • Kashiwa Reysol 46%

Futmetrix AI estimate

A Scrappy Affair Settled by Misfortune at IAI Stadium Nihondaira

Skip It Futmetrix Score: 23/100. Kashiwa Reysol's unbeaten streak continues thanks to a solitary own goal, leaving Shimizu S-pulse slipping further into an early relegation scrap.

Early Dominance Without the Bite

The atmosphere at IAI Stadium Nihondaira carried a tense edge as Shimizu S-pulse looked to disrupt their high-flying visitors. From the outset, Kashiwa Reysol dominated possession, eventually holding 62% of the ball. They dictated the tempo through the midfield, with H. Yamauchi pulling the tactical strings to earn his man-of-the-match plaudits. Despite crafting a massive 17 total shots, the away side struggled to find a clinical edge, managing a mere three on target throughout the contest. The Balance of play heavily favored Kashiwa, but their inability to breach a stubborn home defence early on kept the crowd on edge. Shimizu absorbed pressure valiantly, trying to strike on the counter, but their own blunt attack meant they failed to test the visiting goalkeeper even once in the opening exchanges.

A Cruel Twist of Fate

With the match seemingly drifting toward a tactical stalemate, the defining moment arrived in the 71st minute through sheer misfortune rather than attacking brilliance. A scrambling defensive sequence concluded disastrously when Jelani Reshaun Sumiyoshi inadvertently bundled the ball into the net for the decisive own goal. This solitary strike broke the deadlock and entirely shifted the momentum of the tie. For neutral observers, the overall Intensity might have felt modest, reflected in our low post-match rating, but for the traveling supporters, it was a priceless breakthrough. Shimizu attempted to mount an immediate response, earning several free kicks and corners, yet they lacked the creative spark required to penetrate Kashiwa’s well-organized defensive block. The ugly nature of the goal perfectly encapsulated a deeply attritional afternoon.

Diverging Paths in the Table

The final whistle confirmed a 1-0 away victory that cements Kashiwa Reysol’s formidable early-season form. Sitting comfortably in second place with a perfect win record, they are firmly in the mix for AFC Champions League qualification. Conversely, the result sounds alarm bells for the hosts. Failing to register a single shot on target across 90 minutes is a damning statistic. With just three points from four fixtures, Shimizu S-pulse finds themselves slipping dangerously close to an early-season relegation battle. While a low Upset Factor meant this result was largely expected, the manner of the defeat will sting. Shimizu must urgently locate their attacking rhythm, while Kashiwa can celebrate securing maximum points on the road without ever needing to shift out of second gear.

Key Questions

What does this mean for Shimizu S-pulse's season?

With zero shots on target and lingering near the drop zone, Shimizu faces a worrying early relegation battle. They must urgently fix their broken attacking mechanics to survive.

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.

Match Statistics

Possession
38%
62%
Shimizu S-pulse 38%
Kashiwa Reysol 62%
Shots
6
17
Shimizu S-pulse 6
Kashiwa Reysol 17
Shots on Target
0
3
Shimizu S-pulse 0
Kashiwa Reysol 3
Passes
359
598
Shimizu S-pulse 359
Kashiwa Reysol 598
Corners
3
6
Shimizu S-pulse 3
Kashiwa Reysol 6
Fouls
9
9
Shimizu S-pulse 9
Kashiwa Reysol 9
Yellow Cards
0
0
Shimizu S-pulse 0
Kashiwa Reysol 0
Red Cards
0
0
Shimizu S-pulse 0
Kashiwa Reysol 0

Match Events

HT
Y. Kakita Y. Segawa 🔄 46'
H. Yamauchi M. Hosoya 🔄 57'
66' 🔄 Y. Tsuji K. Kinoshita
66' 🔄 Y. Honda J. Sumiyoshi
Y. Koizumi K. Yuruki 🔄 70'
K. Endo K. Yuba 🔄 70'
J. Sumiyoshi 71'
75' 🔄 T. Fujii Capixaba
82' 🔄 M. Yumiba K. Koizumi
82' 🔄 Y. Yoshida S. Takagi
T. Kubo S. Baba 🔄 90'+1
FT

Head to Head

Date Home Score Away Competition Venue
06/28/2025 Shimizu S-pulse 0 - 2 Kashiwa Reysol J1 League IAI Stadium Nihondaira
05/06/2025 Kashiwa Reysol 1 - 0 Shimizu S-pulse J1 League Sankyo Frontier Kashiwa Stadium
08/20/2022 Shimizu S-pulse 1 - 1 Kashiwa Reysol J1 League IAI Stadium Nihondaira
05/29/2022 Kashiwa Reysol 3 - 1 Shimizu S-pulse J1 League SANKYO FRONTIER Kashiwa Stadium
10/16/2021 Shimizu S-pulse 0 - 1 Kashiwa Reysol J1 League IAI Stadium Nihondaira
03/21/2021 Kashiwa Reysol 1 - 2 Shimizu S-pulse J1 League SANKYO FRONTIER Kashiwa Stadium
10/31/2020 Kashiwa Reysol 0 - 0 Shimizu S-pulse J1 League SANKYO FRONTIER Kashiwa Stadium
09/05/2020 Shimizu S-pulse 1 - 2 Kashiwa Reysol J1 League IAI Stadium Nihondaira
09/15/2018 Kashiwa Reysol 2 - 3 Shimizu S-pulse J1 League Sankyo Frontier Kashiwa Stadium
04/28/2018 Shimizu S-pulse 2 - 1 Kashiwa Reysol J1 League IAI Stadium Nihondaira
06/28/2025
J1 League IAI Stadium Nihondaira
05/06/2025
J1 League Sankyo Frontier Kashiwa Stadium
08/20/2022
J1 League IAI Stadium Nihondaira
05/29/2022
J1 League SANKYO FRONTIER Kashiwa Stadium
10/16/2021
J1 League IAI Stadium Nihondaira
03/21/2021
J1 League SANKYO FRONTIER Kashiwa Stadium
10/31/2020
J1 League SANKYO FRONTIER Kashiwa Stadium
09/05/2020
J1 League IAI Stadium Nihondaira
09/15/2018
J1 League Sankyo Frontier Kashiwa Stadium
04/28/2018
J1 League IAI Stadium Nihondaira
Shimizu S-pulse Win
Kashiwa Reysol Win
Draw

League Standings

Pos Team P Pts GF GA GD Form
1 Machida Zelvia 3 9 12 2 +10 WMachida Zelvia 3 - 1 Urawa (23-08-2026)WJEF United Chiba 0 - 4 Machida Zelvia (15-08-2026)WFC Tokyo 1 - 5 Machida Zelvia (08-08-2026)
2 Kashiwa Reysol 3 9 9 4 +5 WKashiwa Reysol 4 - 2 V-varen Nagasaki (21-08-2026)WTokyo Verdy 1 - 3 Kashiwa Reysol (14-08-2026)WKashiwa Reysol 2 - 1 Mito Hollyhock (08-08-2026)
3 Kashima 3 9 9 6 +3 WKashima 3 - 2 Avispa Fukuoka (22-08-2026)WKashima 2 - 1 Nagoya Grampus (15-08-2026)WYokohama F. Marinos 3 - 4 Kashima (07-08-2026)
4 Sanfrecce Hiroshima 4 8 8 2 +6 DGamba Osaka 0 - 0 Sanfrecce Hiroshima (29-08-2026)DSanfrecce Hiroshima 1 - 1 Kawasaki Frontale (22-08-2026)WUrawa 1 - 4 Sanfrecce Hiroshima (15-08-2026)WSanfrecce Hiroshima 3 - 0 JEF United Chiba (08-08-2026)
5 Yokohama F. Marinos 3 6 5 4 +1 WYokohama F. Marinos 1 - 0 Vissel Kobe (22-08-2026)WShimizu S-pulse 0 - 1 Yokohama F. Marinos (15-08-2026)LYokohama F. Marinos 3 - 4 Kashima (07-08-2026)
6 Cerezo Osaka 3 6 3 4 -1 WCerezo Osaka 1 - 0 Shimizu S-pulse (22-08-2026)LAvispa Fukuoka 3 - 0 Cerezo Osaka (15-08-2026)WCerezo Osaka 2 - 1 Fagiano Okayama (08-08-2026)
7 Gamba Osaka 4 5 6 7 -1 DGamba Osaka 0 - 0 Sanfrecce Hiroshima (29-08-2026)LNagoya Grampus 3 - 1 Gamba Osaka (22-08-2026)DMito Hollyhock 1 - 1 Gamba Osaka (15-08-2026)WGamba Osaka 4 - 3 Urawa (07-08-2026)
8 Mito Hollyhock 3 4 5 4 +1 WKyoto Sanga 1 - 3 Mito Hollyhock (22-08-2026)DMito Hollyhock 1 - 1 Gamba Osaka (15-08-2026)LKashiwa Reysol 2 - 1 Mito Hollyhock (08-08-2026)
9 Vissel Kobe 3 4 3 3 0 LYokohama F. Marinos 1 - 0 Vissel Kobe (22-08-2026)DVissel Kobe 2 - 2 FC Tokyo (15-08-2026)WAvispa Fukuoka 0 - 1 Vissel Kobe (08-08-2026)
10 Fagiano Okayama 3 4 2 2 0 DFagiano Okayama 0 - 0 Tokyo Verdy (22-08-2026)WFagiano Okayama 1 - 0 V-varen Nagasaki (15-08-2026)LCerezo Osaka 2 - 1 Fagiano Okayama (08-08-2026)
11 FC Tokyo 3 4 5 7 -2 WFC Tokyo 2 - 0 JEF United Chiba (21-08-2026)DVissel Kobe 2 - 2 FC Tokyo (15-08-2026)LFC Tokyo 1 - 5 Machida Zelvia (08-08-2026)
12 Avispa Fukuoka 3 3 5 4 +1 LKashima 3 - 2 Avispa Fukuoka (22-08-2026)WAvispa Fukuoka 3 - 0 Cerezo Osaka (15-08-2026)LAvispa Fukuoka 0 - 1 Vissel Kobe (08-08-2026)
13 Nagoya Grampus 3 3 4 4 0 WNagoya Grampus 3 - 1 Gamba Osaka (22-08-2026)LKashima 2 - 1 Nagoya Grampus (15-08-2026)LNagoya Grampus 0 - 1 Shimizu S-pulse (08-08-2026)
14 Kawasaki Frontale 3 3 4 4 0 DSanfrecce Hiroshima 1 - 1 Kawasaki Frontale (22-08-2026)DKawasaki Frontale 2 - 2 Kyoto Sanga (15-08-2026)DTokyo Verdy 1 - 1 Kawasaki Frontale (09-08-2026)
15 Shimizu S-pulse 3 3 1 2 -1 LCerezo Osaka 1 - 0 Shimizu S-pulse (22-08-2026)LShimizu S-pulse 0 - 1 Yokohama F. Marinos (15-08-2026)WNagoya Grampus 0 - 1 Shimizu S-pulse (08-08-2026)
16 V-varen Nagasaki 3 3 4 6 -2 LKashiwa Reysol 4 - 2 V-varen Nagasaki (21-08-2026)LFagiano Okayama 1 - 0 V-varen Nagasaki (15-08-2026)WV-varen Nagasaki 2 - 1 Kyoto Sanga (09-08-2026)
17 Tokyo Verdy 3 2 2 4 -2 DFagiano Okayama 0 - 0 Tokyo Verdy (22-08-2026)LTokyo Verdy 1 - 3 Kashiwa Reysol (14-08-2026)DTokyo Verdy 1 - 1 Kawasaki Frontale (09-08-2026)
18 Kyoto Sanga 3 1 4 7 -3 LKyoto Sanga 1 - 3 Mito Hollyhock (22-08-2026)DKawasaki Frontale 2 - 2 Kyoto Sanga (15-08-2026)LV-varen Nagasaki 2 - 1 Kyoto Sanga (09-08-2026)
19 Urawa 3 0 5 11 -6 LMachida Zelvia 3 - 1 Urawa (23-08-2026)LUrawa 1 - 4 Sanfrecce Hiroshima (15-08-2026)LGamba Osaka 4 - 3 Urawa (07-08-2026)
20 JEF United Chiba 3 0 0 9 -9 LFC Tokyo 2 - 0 JEF United Chiba (21-08-2026)LJEF United Chiba 0 - 4 Machida Zelvia (15-08-2026)LSanfrecce Hiroshima 3 - 0 JEF United Chiba (08-08-2026)

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