J1 League Regular Season - 17

V-varen Nagasaki 2 - 2 PEN 3-2 Vissel Kobe

Peace Stadium

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

Futmetrix Verdict
85
FT
Sun, May 17
日本語
V-varen Nagasaki
2-2 (PEN 3-2)
Vissel Kobe
⚡ Intensity 53
⚖️ Balance 88
🏆 Stakes 78
🎲 Upset 65
Nagasaki shock leaders Kobe on penalties

Shootout Glory: Nagasaki Stun League Leaders Kobe at Peace Stadium

Must-Watch Futmetrix Score: 85/100. A relentless display of attacking intent and goalkeeping heroics culminated in one of the season's most breathless encounters.

A Frantic First Act

When V-varen Nagasaki welcomed league leaders Vissel Kobe to Peace Stadium, few expected the chaotic opening that unfolded. The Intensity was off the charts from the outset. Kobe settled early and controlled possession at 58%, trying to dictate the tempo. However, the hosts struck first against the run of play when H. Yamaguchi fired home in the 21st minute. That opening blow ignited a wild flurry of three goals in just 11 minutes. The response from the visitors was immediate and ruthless. Y. Muto levelled the tie at 27 minutes with a sharp finish, and before the home crowd could regroup, M. Thuler put the away side ahead just five minutes later. The blistering tempo left defenders scrambling.

The Swing of Momentum

A high Balance rating tells the story of a match where the lead changed hands four times in total. Just as Kobe looked to carry their hard-fought advantage into the break, Dudu Giusti equalised on the stroke of half-time. His strike was orchestrated by the brilliant Matheus Jesus, who delivered his second crucial assist of the afternoon. The second half transformed into an absolute shooting gallery, with 28 combined shots traded between the two attacking outfits. Kobe pushed hard to reclaim their lead, dominating the dangerous areas, but Goto Masaaki was an impenetrable wall. The goalkeeper made four essential saves, denying several clear-cut opportunities to keep the hosts alive under severe pressure. His heroics ensured the deadlock remained intact as regulation time expired.

Nerve-Racking Conclusion

With nothing separating the sides after a breathless ninety minutes, this incredible J1 League thriller progressed to a dramatic penalty shootout. The tension around Peace Stadium was palpable as the players stepped up to the spot. The high Upset Factor became a reality as Nagasaki held their nerve, executing flawlessly to win the shootout 3-2. This resilient victory proves that the mid-table hosts can genuinely go toe-to-toe with the very best in the country. While Kobe remain top of the table despite the dropped points, this result serves as a wake-up call for their title ambitions. For Nagasaki, it is a statement night that could redefine the trajectory of their entire season. The celebrations that erupted in the stands confirmed just how much this hard-fought result meant to the local supporters.

Key Questions

What made Matheus Jesus the Man of the Match?

He orchestrated the attack with two brilliant assists and three key passes, completely unlocking Kobe's defence during the crucial first-half goal flurry.

What does this mean for V-varen Nagasaki's season?

Sitting eighth, taking down the league leaders provides a massive psychological boost and proves they can legitimately challenge for the top spots.

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
42%
58%
V-varen Nagasaki 42%
Vissel Kobe 58%
Shots
13
15
V-varen Nagasaki 13
Vissel Kobe 15
Shots on Target
5
6
V-varen Nagasaki 5
Vissel Kobe 6
Passes
303
428
V-varen Nagasaki 303
Vissel Kobe 428
Pass Accuracy
69%
77%
V-varen Nagasaki 69%
Vissel Kobe 77%
Corners
5
3
V-varen Nagasaki 5
Vissel Kobe 3
Fouls
11
9
V-varen Nagasaki 11
Vissel Kobe 9
Yellow Cards
2
1
V-varen Nagasaki 2
Vissel Kobe 1
Red Cards
0
0
V-varen Nagasaki 0
Vissel Kobe 0

Match Events

21' H. Yamaguchi (Matheus Jesus)
Y. Muto (N. Iino) 27'
M. Thuler 32'
Caetano 🟨 37'
45' Dudu Giusti (Matheus Jesus)
HT
N. Iino R. Hirose 🔄 58'
63' 🔄 Thiago R. Yamasaki
Y. Osako R. Komatsu 🔄 64'
66' 🟨 H. Onaga
71' 🔄 Dudu Giusti Y. Egawa
Caetano M. Mitsuta 🔄 79'
Y. Ideguchi Jean Patric 🔄 79'
81' 🔄 K. Kushibiki H. Teruyama
81' 🔄 R. Yamada Diego Pituca
81' 🔄 M. Hasegawa N. Campbell
90'+2 🟨 Diego Pituca
FT

Player Cards

Our take on every player in this match

V-varen Nagasaki

Goalkeepers
Goto Masaaki
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Onaga Hijiri
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kushibiki Kazuki
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
9
Late Mins
9
Late Mins
81
Total Mins
81
Entry
Eduardo
SNIPER
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Midfielders
Masahiro Sekiguchi
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yamaguchi Hotaru
SNIPER
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Riku Yamada
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
9
Late Mins
9
Late Mins
82
Total Mins
81
Entry
Yoneda Shunya
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Forwards
Motoki Hasegawa
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
9
Late Mins
9
Late Mins
81
Total Mins
81
Entry
Matheus Jesus
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
2
Assists
19%
Pass Acc
Thiago Santana
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
63
Total Mins
63
Entry
BENCH
Hatano Go
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Keita Takahata
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yusei Egawa
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
23
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Hayato Teruyama
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Norman Campbell
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tenmu Matsumoto
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tsubasa Kasayanagi
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Diego Pituca
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
12
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yamasaki Ryogo
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
31
Total Mins
Started
Entry

Vissel Kobe

Goalkeepers
Daiya Maekawa
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
1
Key Passes
1
Key Passes
0
Assists
22%
Pass Acc
Defenders
Boniface Nduka
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Thuler
SNIPER
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
Caetano
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
11
Late Mins
11
Late Mins
79
Total Mins
79
Entry
Midfielders
Nanasei Iino
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
1
Assists
19%
Pass Acc
Gotoku Sakai
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yosuke Ideguchi
ENFORCER
ENFORCER
4
Tackles
4
Tackles
6
Duels Won
75%
Win %
Diego
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Forwards
Yoshinori Muto
FINISHER
FINISHER
1
Goals
1
Goals
3
Shots
7.3
Rating
Daiju Sasaki
MAGNET
MAGNET
55
Activity
55
Activity
34
Passes
21
Duels
Yuya Osako
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
64
Total Mins
64
Entry
BENCH
Shuichi Gonda
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Rikuto Hirose
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
36
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Katsuya Nagato
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mitsuki Hidaka
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yuta Goke
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yuya Kuwasaki
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ren Komatsu
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
30
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Makoto Mitsuta
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
15
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jean Patric
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
15
Total Mins
Started
Entry

Head to Head

Date Home Score Away Competition Venue
02/13/2026 Vissel Kobe 2 - 0 V-varen Nagasaki J1 League Noevir Stadium
10/06/2018 Vissel Kobe 1 - 1 V-varen Nagasaki J1 League Noevir Stadium Kobe
07/18/2018 V-varen Nagasaki 0 - 1 Vissel Kobe J1 League Nagasaki Prefectural Stadium
04/18/2018 V-varen Nagasaki 1 - 2 Vissel Kobe J-League Cup transcosmos Stadium Nagasaki
03/07/2018 Vissel Kobe 2 - 2 V-varen Nagasaki J-League Cup NOEVIR Stadium Kobe
09/15/2013 V-varen Nagasaki 0 - 2 Vissel Kobe J2 League Nagasaki Prefectural Sports Park Athletics Stadium
06/22/2013 Vissel Kobe 2 - 0 V-varen Nagasaki J2 League NOEVIR Stadium Kobe
02/13/2026
J1 League Noevir Stadium
10/06/2018
J1 League Noevir Stadium Kobe
07/18/2018
J1 League Nagasaki Prefectural Stadium
04/18/2018
J-League Cup transcosmos Stadium Nagasaki
03/07/2018
J-League Cup NOEVIR Stadium Kobe
09/15/2013
J2 League Nagasaki Prefectural Sports Park Athletics Stadium
06/22/2013
J2 League NOEVIR Stadium Kobe
V-varen Nagasaki Win
Vissel Kobe Win
Draw

League Standings

Pos Team P Pts GF GA GD Form
1 Vissel Kobe 17 30 26 21 +5 DV-varen Nagasaki 2 - 2 (PEN 3-2) Vissel Kobe (17-05-2026)WVissel Kobe 1 - 0 Kyoto Sanga (13-05-2026)LVissel Kobe 0 - 3 Fagiano Okayama (10-05-2026)DSanfrecce Hiroshima 1 - 1 (PEN 4-5) Vissel Kobe (06-05-2026)LGamba Osaka 5 - 0 Vissel Kobe (02-05-2026)
2 Nagoya Grampus 17 29 29 24 +5 LCerezo Osaka 6 - 1 Nagoya Grampus (17-05-2026)WNagoya Grampus 3 - 0 Kyoto Sanga (10-05-2026)WNagoya Grampus 2 - 1 Gamba Osaka (06-05-2026)WV-varen Nagasaki 1 - 2 Nagoya Grampus (03-05-2026)DNagoya Grampus 1 - 1 (PEN 4-5) Fagiano Okayama (29-04-2026)
3 Sanfrecce Hiroshima 17 25 25 19 +6 WKyoto Sanga 0 - 4 Sanfrecce Hiroshima (17-05-2026)WGamba Osaka 0 - 1 Sanfrecce Hiroshima (10-05-2026)DSanfrecce Hiroshima 1 - 1 (PEN 4-5) Vissel Kobe (06-05-2026)LFagiano Okayama 1 - 0 Sanfrecce Hiroshima (02-05-2026)DAvispa Fukuoka 2 - 2 (PEN 4-3) Sanfrecce Hiroshima (29-04-2026)
4 Cerezo Osaka 17 24 23 17 +6 WCerezo Osaka 6 - 1 Nagoya Grampus (17-05-2026)WCerezo Osaka 3 - 2 V-varen Nagasaki (09-05-2026)DShimizu S-pulse 1 - 1 (PEN 5-3) Cerezo Osaka (06-05-2026)DCerezo Osaka 1 - 1 (PEN 4-3) Avispa Fukuoka (03-05-2026)DVissel Kobe 0 - 0 (PEN 2-4) Cerezo Osaka (29-04-2026)
5 Fagiano Okayama 17 24 22 22 0 WFagiano Okayama 2 - 0 Shimizu S-pulse (17-05-2026)WVissel Kobe 0 - 3 Fagiano Okayama (10-05-2026)LV-varen Nagasaki 2 - 1 Fagiano Okayama (06-05-2026)WFagiano Okayama 1 - 0 Sanfrecce Hiroshima (02-05-2026)DNagoya Grampus 1 - 1 (PEN 4-5) Fagiano Okayama (29-04-2026)
6 Gamba Osaka 17 20 24 21 +3 LGamba Osaka 0 - 1 Sanfrecce Hiroshima (10-05-2026)LNagoya Grampus 2 - 1 Gamba Osaka (06-05-2026)WGamba Osaka 5 - 0 Vissel Kobe (02-05-2026)DKyoto Sanga 1 - 1 (PEN 5-4) Gamba Osaka (29-04-2026)DV-varen Nagasaki 1 - 1 (PEN 5-6) Gamba Osaka (25-04-2026)
7 Shimizu S-pulse 17 20 18 19 -1 LFagiano Okayama 2 - 0 Shimizu S-pulse (17-05-2026)DShimizu S-pulse 1 - 1 (PEN 4-3) Avispa Fukuoka (10-05-2026)DShimizu S-pulse 1 - 1 (PEN 5-3) Cerezo Osaka (06-05-2026)WKyoto Sanga 1 - 2 Shimizu S-pulse (02-05-2026)LShimizu S-pulse 1 - 2 V-varen Nagasaki (29-04-2026)
8 V-varen Nagasaki 17 20 20 27 -7 DV-varen Nagasaki 2 - 2 (PEN 3-2) Vissel Kobe (17-05-2026)LCerezo Osaka 3 - 2 V-varen Nagasaki (09-05-2026)WV-varen Nagasaki 2 - 1 Fagiano Okayama (06-05-2026)LV-varen Nagasaki 1 - 2 Nagoya Grampus (03-05-2026)WShimizu S-pulse 1 - 2 V-varen Nagasaki (29-04-2026)
9 Kyoto Sanga 17 17 18 26 -8 LKyoto Sanga 0 - 4 Sanfrecce Hiroshima (17-05-2026)LVissel Kobe 1 - 0 Kyoto Sanga (13-05-2026)LNagoya Grampus 3 - 0 Kyoto Sanga (10-05-2026)DAvispa Fukuoka 1 - 1 (PEN 5-4) Kyoto Sanga (06-05-2026)LKyoto Sanga 1 - 2 Shimizu S-pulse (02-05-2026)
10 Avispa Fukuoka 17 17 17 26 -9 DShimizu S-pulse 1 - 1 (PEN 4-3) Avispa Fukuoka (10-05-2026)DAvispa Fukuoka 1 - 1 (PEN 5-4) Kyoto Sanga (06-05-2026)DCerezo Osaka 1 - 1 (PEN 4-3) Avispa Fukuoka (03-05-2026)DAvispa Fukuoka 2 - 2 (PEN 4-3) Sanfrecce Hiroshima (29-04-2026)LFagiano Okayama 2 - 0 Avispa Fukuoka (25-04-2026)