FootballStream
Sanfrecce lead by one point after defeat to Urawa Thumbnail

Upcoming Matches

Aug 21, 2025 (UTC)

Description

With only three games left to play, J-League leaders Sanfrecce Hiroshima faced a difficult trip to third-placed Urawa Reds. Sanfrecce were only two points clear of nearest challengers Vegalta Sendai, but failed to create many clear opportunities in the first half.Instead, Urawa showed the greater purpose with Sanfrecce keeper Shusaku Nishikawa saving from Genki Haraguchi. The hosts opened the scoring shortly before half-time through Tsukasa Umesaki's explosive finish.And Urawa went further ahead just past the hour mark through Keita Suzuki. A looping Mihael Mikic header was all Sanfrecce offered in response as they fell to a deserved 2-0 defeat.Meanwhile, the race for third place, and the final AFC Champions League qualification spot, looks just as tight. One of the teams in contention, Nagoya Grampus visited Jubilo Iwata. Nagoya started strongly, with Jubilo's Naoki Hatta denying Yoshizumi Ogawa early on.But there was no denying Marcus Tanaka, whose pinpoint header gave the visitors the lead on the stroke of half-time. Nagoya made sure of the points in time added on, through substitute Kensuke Nagai's close-range finish.The 2-0 victory sees fourth-placed Nagoya keep pace with Urawa, with both clubs on 52 points. They face each other on the final day of the season in what could be an AFC Champions League qualifying decider. Despite Sanfrecce's defeat, they remain top, one point clear of Vegalta Sendai who could only manage a 3-3 draw at Kashima Antlers.Bookmark: http://www.youtube.com/goalSubscribe - http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=goal Twitter - http://twitter.com/YouTubeGoal FacebookGoal UK: http://www.facebook.com/GoalUK Goal International: http://www.facebook.com/goal