Machida Produce Stunning Comeback to Beat FC Tokyo 5-1! Hiroshima Cruise Past Chiba with Three-Goal Win [MEIJI YASUDA J1 Matchweek 1 Summary]

Six Matchweek 1 fixtures in the MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE were played on Saturday.

FC Machida Zelvia fell behind just five minutes into their away match against FC Tokyo, but Mitchell Duke brought them level in the 27th minute. Machida then gained a numerical advantage when FC Tokyo were reduced to 10 men in the 38th minute, before new signing Takahiro Akimoto put the visitors ahead just before half-time. Machida carried that momentum into the second half, adding three more goals, including one from Yuki Soma, to complete an emphatic 5-1 victory.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima made the perfect start at home to JEF United Chiba, with Shuto Nakano opening the scoring in the third minute. Akito Suzuki doubled their lead in the 79th minute before Takumu Kawamura, who returned to the club this season, added a third in the 88th minute to seal a comfortable 3-0 victory.

Kashiwa Reysol edged Mito HollyHock 2-1 thanks to goals from Yuki Kakita and Yoshio Koizumi. Shimizu S-Pulse, meanwhile, held on for a 1-0 victory over Nagoya Grampus after Koya Kitagawa struck the only goal of the match in the 38th minute.

Vissel Kobe earned a 1-0 away win over Avispa Fukuoka, with Yuya Osako's 23rd-minute goal proving to be the winner. Cerezo Osaka fell behind in the eighth minute against Fagiano Okayama, but Solomon Sakuragawa equalised in the 20th minute before Yumeki Yokoyama struck four minutes later to complete a 2-1 comeback victory.

MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE Standings

■Match Data
Kashiwa Reysol vs. Mito HollyHock
FC Tokyo vs. FC Machida Zelvia
Nagoya Grampus vs. Shimizu S-Pulse
Cerezo Osaka vs. Fagiano Okayama
Avispa Fukuoka vs. Vissel Kobe
Sanfrecce Hiroshima vs. JEF United Chiba

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