J1 League Gameweek 4
Vissel Kobe 2 - 1 FT Avispa Fukuoka
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Futmetrix Verdict
43
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vs
Newcastle
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⚡ Form
47
⚖️ Balance
95
🏆 Stakes
0
⭐ Stars
72
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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
Tomoya Miki 33'
Tomoya Miki 34'
HT
↓ S. Sato ↑K. Okuno 46'
46' ↓ Y. Kuwasaki ↑K. Hamasaki
Shahab Zahedi 48'
53' Y. Muto (R. Komatsu)
↓ S. Zahedi ↑S. Usui 57'
↓ K. Fujimoto ↑Y. Hashimoto 57'
60' R. Komatsu (D. Sasaki)
↓ S. Nago ↑Y. Kitajima 72'
74' ↓ Y. Muto ↑T. Inui
74' ↓ Y. Goke ↑H. Ide
84' ↓ Y. Ideguchi ↑M. Hidaka
Masato Shigemi 87'
↓ T. Kamijima ↑Y. Tsujioka 87'
Y. Hashimoto 90'
90' ↓ R. Komatsu ↑Caetano
Masaya Tashiro 90'+1
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Vissel Kobe
Goalkeepers
Daiya Maekawa 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Rikuto Hirose 
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
82%
Pass Acc
K. Yamada 
MAGNET
103
Activity
103
Activity
89
Passes
14
Duels
Matheus Thuler
MAGNET
100
Activity
100
Activity
93
Passes
7
Duels
Katsuya Nagato
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
Yuta Goke
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
75
Total Mins
74
Entry
Yuya Kuwasaki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
Yosuke Ideguchi
MAGNET
99
Activity
99
Activity
94
Passes
5
Duels
Forwards
Yoshinori Muto 
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Ren Komatsu
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
Daiju Sasaki
ARCHITECT
6
Key Passes
6
Key Passes
1
Assists
41%
Pass Acc
BENCH
Shuichi Gonda 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Boniface Nduka
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
João Victor
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
1
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Haruya Ide
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
15
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nanasei Iino
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Takashi Inui
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
16
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mitsuki Hidaka
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
13
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kento Hamasaki 
STORMTROOPER
3
Shots
3
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Yuya Osako
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Avispa Fukuoka
Goalkeepers
Powell Obinna Obi
ARCHITECT
1
Key Passes
1
Key Passes
0
Assists
6%
Pass Acc
Defenders
Takumi Kamijima 
SHIELD
3
Blocks
3
Blocks
0
Interceptions
1
Tackles
Masaya Tashiro
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Teppei Oka
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
Yota Maejima
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Masato Shigemi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tomoya Miki 
FRIENDLY FIRE
Red Card
Mistake
Red Card
Mistake
2
Fouls
5.7
Rating
Kazuki Fujimoto
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
57
Total Mins
57
Entry
Forwards
Sonosuke Sato
STORMTROOPER
3
Shots
3
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Shintaro Nago
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
72
Total Mins
72
Entry
Shahab Zahedi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
57
Total Mins
57
Entry
BENCH
Kazuki Fujita
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Yuma Tsujioka
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
10
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kaoru Yamawaki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tatsuki Nara
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yu Hashimoto 
CLUTCH HERO
90
Goal Time
90
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
7.9
Rating
Kohei Okuno
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yuji Kitajima
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
18
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yutaka Michiwaki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Shosei Usui
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
33
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05/23/2026 | Avispa Fukuoka | 0 - 1 | Vissel Kobe | J1 League | Best Denki Stadium |
| 02/27/2026 | Vissel Kobe | 2 - 1 | Avispa Fukuoka | J1 League | Noevir Stadium |
| 06/28/2025 | Avispa Fukuoka | 0 - 0 | Vissel Kobe | J1 League | Best Denki Stadium |
| 03/01/2025 | Vissel Kobe | 0 - 1 | Avispa Fukuoka | J1 League | Noevir Stadium |
| 09/01/2024 | Avispa Fukuoka | 0 - 2 | Vissel Kobe | J1 League | Best Denki Stadium |
| 05/15/2024 | Vissel Kobe | 1 - 0 | Avispa Fukuoka | J1 League | NOEVIR Stadium Kobe |
| 06/25/2023 | Avispa Fukuoka | 0 - 3 | Vissel Kobe | J1 League | Best Denki Stadium |
| 02/18/2023 | Vissel Kobe | 1 - 0 | Avispa Fukuoka | J1 League | NOEVIR Stadium Kobe |
| 10/01/2022 | Avispa Fukuoka | 0 - 1 | Vissel Kobe | J1 League | Best Denki Stadium |
| 08/10/2022 | Avispa Fukuoka | 1 - 0 | Vissel Kobe | J-League Cup | Best Denki Stadium |
05/23/2026
02/27/2026
06/28/2025
03/01/2025
09/01/2024
05/15/2024
06/25/2023
02/18/2023
10/01/2022
08/10/2022
Vissel Kobe Win
Avispa Fukuoka 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
Vissel Kobe
Avispa Fukuoka
Vissel Kobe
Avispa Fukuoka
Win Probability
Futmetrix AI estimate
Red Card Turns Tide as Kobe Consolidates Top Spot
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 65/100. A controversial first-half dismissal paved the way for Vissel Kobe to break Avispa Fukuoka's resistance and solidify their place at the J1 League summit.
The Opening Exchanges
High Intensity marked the opening minutes as Avispa Fukuoka sought to frustrate the league leaders. The visitors initially held a solid defensive block, restricting spaces and denying early breakthroughs at Noevir Stadium. However, the complexion of the tie shifted dramatically at the half-hour mark. A tense VAR review resulted in a yellow card being upgraded to a straight red for Tomoya Miki following violent conduct. This singular moment completely shattered the Balance of the contest, leaving the away side with a mountainous task against a team already dictating the tempo. Vissel Kobe, riding the momentum of a four-match winning streak, immediately tightened the screws and pinned the visitors deep into their own half.
Breaking the Resistance
Capitalising on the extra man, the hosts completely dominated possession, holding the ball for a staggering 76% of the match. They turned the final third into a relentless shooting gallery, racking up 21 shots. The inevitable breakthrough arrived in the 53rd minute when Y. Muto found the back of the net, finishing off a sharp move orchestrated by R. Komatsu. Seven minutes later, the provider turned executioner. Komatsu doubled the advantage, slotting home a precise delivery from D. Sasaki. The Kobe playmaker was an absolute menace all afternoon, carving open the depleted defence with six key passes. Sasaki's vision ensured the home side remained firmly in the driver's seat, mercilessly stretching the exhausted ten men of Avispa Fukuoka.
A Late Flurry
Despite facing overwhelming odds, Fukuoka refused to surrender quietly. They absorbed heavy pressure and managed to disrupt the clean sheet late in the day. In the 90th minute, substitute Y. Hashimoto delivered a surprising consolation goal, briefly injecting a nervous energy into the stadium. However, Kobe's shot-stopper Daiya Maekawa ensured there would be no late collapse, calmly making three essential saves throughout the match to maintain control. When the final whistle blew, the 2-1 result perfectly reflected the high Stakes of the title race. The victory cements Vissel Kobe's spot at the J1 League summit, proving their ruthless efficiency when handed a numerical advantage on home soil.
Key Questions
How did the red card for Tomoya Miki impact the match?
Tomoya Miki's 34th-minute dismissal gave Vissel Kobe absolute control, allowing them to dominate possession and overwhelm Fukuoka's depleted defence.
What made Daiju Sasaki the Man of the Match?
Sasaki orchestrated the attack with six key passes and provided a vital assist for Kobe's second goal, earning a stellar 9.5 rating.
How did substitute Daiju Sasaki change the game?
Sasaki actually started the match, dictating play with his passing. It was Fukuoka's substitute Y. Hashimoto who changed the late dynamic by scoring in the 90th minute.
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.
Title Ambitions on the Line in Kobe
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 60/100. Vissel Kobe's relentless title march demands nothing less than three points against a resilient Fukuoka side.
The Setup
Vissel Kobe sit proudly at the summit of the J1 League, and the Stakes could not be higher as we approach this February 27, 2026 clash. Their impressive Form, marked by a recent four-match winning streak, makes them heavy favourites. However, Avispa Fukuoka are enjoying their own purple patch, having secured three consecutive wins recently. While the Balance rating suggests a potential mismatch on paper due to Kobe's overwhelming home fortress at Noevir Stadium, the mid-table visitors arrive with nothing to lose. The home side's superior roster of Stars will need to be sharp to prevent any slip-ups in this crucial title race fixture.
Key Battle
The clash between Yoshinori Muto and Maeda Kokoro will be fascinating. Kobe's veteran forward Muto brings immense guile and a steady stream of attacking returns to the final third, but he will be matched in sheer match-winning impact by Fukuoka's rising attacking threat. Whoever stamps their authority early will dictate the tempo.
Our Prediction
We expect a measured 2-0 victory for the home side. Fukuoka will likely sit deep to absorb pressure, but Kobe’s overwhelming attacking talent and sheer momentum will ultimately break the deadlock in the second half, solidifying their spot at the top.