J1 League Gameweek 17
V-varen Nagasaki 2 - 2 PEN 3-2 Vissel Kobe
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
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
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Onaga Hijiri
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kushibiki Kazuki
LATE SHIFT
9
Late Mins
9
Late Mins
81
Total Mins
81
Entry
Eduardo 
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Midfielders
Masahiro Sekiguchi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yamaguchi Hotaru
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Riku Yamada
LATE SHIFT
9
Late Mins
9
Late Mins
82
Total Mins
81
Entry
Yoneda Shunya
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Forwards
Motoki Hasegawa
LATE SHIFT
9
Late Mins
9
Late Mins
81
Total Mins
81
Entry
Matheus Jesus 
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
2
Assists
19%
Pass Acc
Thiago Santana
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
63
Total Mins
63
Entry
BENCH
Hatano Go 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Keita Takahata
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yusei Egawa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
23
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Hayato Teruyama
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Norman Campbell
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tenmu Matsumoto
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tsubasa Kasayanagi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Diego Pituca
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
12
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yamasaki Ryogo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
31
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Vissel Kobe
Goalkeepers
Daiya Maekawa
ARCHITECT
1
Key Passes
1
Key Passes
0
Assists
22%
Pass Acc
Defenders
Boniface Nduka
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Thuler
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
Caetano
LATE SHIFT
11
Late Mins
11
Late Mins
79
Total Mins
79
Entry
Midfielders
Nanasei Iino
ARCHITECT
3
Key Passes
3
Key Passes
1
Assists
19%
Pass Acc
Gotoku Sakai
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yosuke Ideguchi 
ENFORCER
4
Tackles
4
Tackles
6
Duels Won
75%
Win %
Diego
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
94
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Forwards
Yoshinori Muto 
FINISHER
1
Goals
1
Goals
3
Shots
7.3
Rating
Daiju Sasaki 
MAGNET
55
Activity
55
Activity
34
Passes
21
Duels
Yuya Osako
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
64
Total Mins
64
Entry
BENCH
Shuichi Gonda
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Rikuto Hirose
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
36
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Katsuya Nagato
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mitsuki Hidaka
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yuta Goke
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yuya Kuwasaki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ren Komatsu
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
30
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Makoto Mitsuta
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
15
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jean Patric
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
10/06/2018
07/18/2018
04/18/2018
03/07/2018
09/15/2013
06/22/2013
V-varen Nagasaki Win
Vissel Kobe Win
Draw
League Standings
P: 14 GD: +14
P: 17 GD: +19
P: 17 GD: +5
P: 14 GD: +15
P: 17 GD: +13
P: 17 GD: +5
P: 13 GD: +7
P: 17 GD: +3
P: 17 GD: +6
P: 14 GD: +6
P: 17 GD: +8
P: 17 GD: +6
P: 13 GD: +1
P: 17 GD: 0
P: 17 GD: 0
P: 13 GD: -1
P: 17 GD: -6
P: 17 GD: +3
P: 15 GD: +5
P: 17 GD: -7
P: 17 GD: -1
P: 14 GD: +4
P: 17 GD: -5
P: 17 GD: -7
P: 14 GD: +1
P: 17 GD: -14
P: 17 GD: -8
P: 14 GD: +1
P: 17 GD: -11
P: 17 GD: -9
P: 14 GD: -4
P: 14 GD: -6
P: 14 GD: 0
P: 13 GD: 0
P: 14 GD: -4
P: 14 GD: -7
P: 15 GD: -9
P: 14 GD: -7
P: 14 GD: -6
P: 14 GD: -10
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
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.
Kobe's Title Charge Hits Enemy Territory
Highly Entertaining Futmetrix Score: 81/100. Vissel Kobe's championship credentials face a fierce away test against a dangerous Nagasaki side.
The Setup
This May 17 clash at Peace Stadium carries immense Stakes for Vissel Kobe. Sitting second in the league standings, the visitors are locked in a ruthless title race where any dropped points could be fatal. V-varen Nagasaki currently sit tenth, battling a wildly inconsistent Form rating after alternating wins and losses over their last five matches. Despite Kobe's away dominance—boasting an excellent road win rate—the Balance of this matchup suggests a hard-fought battle rather than a straightforward coronation.
Key Battle
The match hinges on a fascinating duel between Thiago Santana and Katsuya Nagato. With undeniable Stars power, Santana serves as the home side's primary offensive focal point and arrives in brilliant goalscoring touch. Nagato must leverage his tactical discipline to cut off supply lines and neutralize Santana before he can threaten the target. If Nagato locks down his defensive zone, Kobe will be free to dictate the tempo and push forward.
Our Prediction
Expect Vissel Kobe to edge out a 2-1 victory. Nagasaki will look to strike early on the counter-attack, feeding off the energy of the home crowd. However, Kobe's superior tactical organization will eventually break them down. The visitors will relentlessly exploit wide areas, culminating in a late second-half winner that keeps their championship dreams entirely intact.