J1 League: Sanfrecce Hiroshima defeat Urawa Reds 4-1

In the second round of the J1 League, Sanfrecce Hiroshima secured a 4-1 victory over Urawa Reds. A standout moment featured 20-year-old midfielder Yota Nakajima, whose precise lofted assist to Tsukasa Shiotani in first-half stoppage time set the tone for the match.

Urawa Reds struggled in their home opener, suffering their second consecutive loss. Despite the defeat, Harumi Minamino provided a bright spot by assisting a goal via a free kick, though he expressed a desire to improve his overall offensive impact. Manager Cho Gue-sung highlighted the performance of 23-year-old center-back Kota Kudo, describing his play as ‘excellent’ and expressing hope that he becomes a representative player for Japan.

Kashiwa Reysol secured a 3-1 win against Tokyo Verdy. The match highlighted the return of Mitsuki Kumasaka from a long-term injury and the developing partnership in the midfield between him and Atsuki Nakagawa. Kumasaka, who is recovering from an ACL injury, played a full match, with Japan national team coach Hajime Moriyasu noting his positive defensive and offensive contributions.