J1 League Regular Season - 5

Urawa 2 - 0 FT Mito Hollyhock

Saitama Stadium

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

Futmetrix Verdict
46
FT
Sat, Mar 7
日本語
Urawa
2-0
Mito Hollyhock
⚡ Intensity 57
⚖️ Balance 13
🏆 Stakes 0
🎲 Upset 0
Urawa strike late to break Mito.

Red Mist and Late Subs Seal Urawa Triumph

Average Entertainment Futmetrix Score: 46/100. Urawa showcased a lethal clinical edge to dismantle a spirited but ultimately undisciplined Mito side in a pivotal mid-table clash.

Early Attrition

Urawa edged possession in a cagey start under the bright lights at Saitama Stadium, forcing the visitors to rely on sheer volume over attacking precision. Mito Hollyhock peppered the target with 13 total shots throughout the contest, but they amassed a meager 0.70 expected goals, highlighting their profound struggles to penetrate the resolute Urawa penalty area. The vital breakthrough finally arrived in the 41st minute. K. Shibato carved open the visiting backline with a brilliant sequence of play, perfectly allowing R. Hidano to slot home the opener and ignite the home crowd. A relatively modest Balance rating perfectly reflects the tight, tactical chess match that defined the opening 45 minutes. Takuro Kaneko continuously pulled the strings in the center of the park to keep the hosts ticking.

The Flashpoint

The entire complexion of the tie shifted dramatically in the 73rd minute. As Mito Hollyhock desperately pushed numbers forward in search of an equalizer, their rising Intensity suddenly boiled over into outright recklessness. Malick Fofana saw a straight red card for a clumsy challenge, leaving the visitors numerically disadvantaged and frantically scrambling to plug the emerging gaps. Our take? That dismissal completely killed Mito's momentum dead in its tracks. Instead of mounting a late, spirited comeback, they were immediately forced into a desperate rearguard action. At the very heart of Urawa’s ensuing dominance was the magnificent Matheus Sávio. The Urawa maestro delivered an absolute masterclass to earn Man of the Match honors, expertly dictating the tempo against a tiring ten-man block.

The Final Blow

With the clock ticking down and Mito throwing caution to the wind in stoppage time, Urawa ruthlessly delivered the final sucker punch. The hosts executed a flawless counter-attack orchestrated entirely by their fresh legs off the bench. In the 90th minute, J. Hayakawa turned provider with a pinpoint pass, setting up fellow substitute T. Teruuchi to hammer the final nail into Mito’s coffin. This decisive 2-0 result ensures Urawa finally snap their miserable four-match losing streak, leapfrogging the visitors in the league standings and easing the mounting pressure. High Stakes yielded maximum reward for the home side, while Mito Hollyhock must quickly regroup after a massively frustrating defensive collapse on the road.

Key Questions

How did the red card for Malick Fofana impact the match?

Fofana's 73rd-minute dismissal crushed Mito's momentum, forcing them into a desperate defensive posture and allowing Urawa to comfortably dominate the closing stages and score a late second.

How did substitute Matheus Sávio change the game?

Sávio delivered an 8.0-rated masterclass, completely taking over the match's tempo and effortlessly shutting down Mito's desperate attempts to recover possession against the hosts.

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
52%
48%
Urawa 52%
Mito Hollyhock 48%
Shots
8
13
Urawa 8
Mito Hollyhock 13
Shots on Target
5
2
Urawa 5
Mito Hollyhock 2
Expected Goals (xG)
1.35
0.70
Urawa 1.35
Mito Hollyhock 0.70
Passes
443
400
Urawa 443
Mito Hollyhock 400
Pass Accuracy
77%
77%
Urawa 77%
Mito Hollyhock 77%
Corners
2
5
Urawa 2
Mito Hollyhock 5
Fouls
9
15
Urawa 9
Mito Hollyhock 15
Yellow Cards
0
3
Urawa 0
Mito Hollyhock 3
Red Cards
0
1
Urawa 0
Mito Hollyhock 1

Match Events

Malick Fofana 🟨 28'
41' R. Hidano (K. Shibato)
HT
Taishi Semba 🟨 58'
69' 🔄 R. Hidano A. Onaiwu
C. Kato H. Yamamoto 🔄 71'
T. Mase K. Okuda 🔄 71'
Malick Fofana 🟨 73'
Malick Fofana 🟥 73'
Y. Torikai Danilo Cardoso 🔄 75'
S. Omori Y. Nagao 🔄 80'
A. Watanabe K. Gokita 🔄 80'
81' 🔄 K. Yasui S. Nakajima
90' T. Teruuchi (J. Hayakawa)
90'+1 🔄 Matheus Savio T. Teruuchi
90'+1 🔄 T. Kaneko J. Hayakawa
FT

Player Cards

Our take on every player in this match

Urawa

Goalkeepers
S. Nishikawa
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
T. Sekine
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Y. Miyamoto
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
K. Nemoto
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
T. Ogiwara
PROVOCATEUR
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
4
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Midfielders
K. Yasui
ENFORCER
ENFORCER
4
Tackles
4
Tackles
4
Duels Won
80%
Win %
K. Shibato
PROVIDER
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
7.3
Rating
T. Kaneko
PROVOCATEUR
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
7
Duels Won
1
Pens Won
R. Watanabe
STORMTROOPER
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Matheus Savio
ENFORCER
ENFORCER
4
Tackles
4
Tackles
11
Duels Won
85%
Win %
Forwards
R. Hidano
SNIPER
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
BENCH
A. Niekawa
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
H. Ishihara
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Danilo Boza
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Y. Naganuma
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
S. Nakajima
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
9
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Hayakawa
SUPER SUB
SUPER SUB
1
Assist
1
Assist
1
Minutes
0
Rating
T. Teruuchi
CLUTCH HERO
CLUTCH HERO
90
Goal Time
90
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
7.3
Rating
I. Kiese
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Onaiwu
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
21
Total Mins
Started
Entry

Mito Hollyhock

Goalkeepers
K. Nishikawa
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
T. Iida
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
K. Itakura
STORMTROOPER
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
M. Fofana
FRIENDLY FIRE
FRIENDLY FIRE
Red Card
Mistake
Red Card
Mistake
2
Fouls
5.9
Rating
S. Omori
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
0
Assists
23%
Pass Acc
Midfielders
T. Mase
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
71
Total Mins
71
Entry
K. Osaki
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
T. Semba
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
C. Kato
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
71
Total Mins
71
Entry
Forwards
Y. Torikai
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
75
Total Mins
75
Entry
A. Watanabe
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
10
Late Mins
10
Late Mins
80
Total Mins
80
Entry
BENCH
S. Matsubara
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Danilo Cardoso
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
15
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Arai
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
H. Yamamoto
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
19
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Y. Nagao
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
10
Total Mins
Started
Entry
K. Yamazaki
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
K. Okuda
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
19
Total Mins
Started
Entry
K. Tada
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
K. Gokita
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
10
Total Mins
Started
Entry

Head to Head

Date Home Score Away Competition Venue
03/07/2026 Urawa 2 - 0 Mito Hollyhock J1 League Saitama Stadium
08/14/2019 Urawa 2 - 1 Mito Hollyhock Emperor Cup K’s Denki Stadium
03/07/2026
J1 League Saitama Stadium
08/14/2019
Emperor Cup K’s Denki Stadium
Urawa Win
Mito Hollyhock Win
Draw