Football: Marinos stun Antlers as bottom beat top in J1 classic

The Mainichi

25-05-2025

YOKOHAMA (Kyodo) -- Bottom side Yokohama F Marinos stunned leaders Kashima Antlers 3-1 in the J-League first division on Sunday, the home team ending their record-worst seven-game losing run and 11-game winless streak.
The only two "original 10" inaugural J-League members in 1993 who have never been relegated could not have had a more contrasting opening to this season, with Kashima flying high under new manager Toru Oniki while Marinos already parting ways with Steve Holland after a disastrous start and replacing him with Patrick Kisnorbo.
But it was Kashima who came away empty-handed at Nissan Stadium, seeing their seven-game winning run come to an end and stay on 37 points as their lead at the top was narrowed to three points after second-placed Kashiwa Reysol drew 1-1 at Yokohama FC.
"It feels great. I think it's down to all the players," Kisnorbo said at Nissan Stadium. "The last couple of weeks we've been building and building on our performances and today it shows that. But we can't stop now, we'll keep training hard and keep working."
Marinos went in front after just four minutes as Kashima failed to clear the ball in the box, with left-back Katsuya Nagato arriving to strike the ball on a bounce to find the far bottom corner.
Their dream start continued with Yan Matheus capping a flowing one-touch move from the left in the 13th minute. Takuya Kida's pass was laid off by Anderson Lopes and Riku Yamane to set up the Brazilian, who swept the ball into the left bottom corner.
Lopes set up Marinos' third in the 27th minute after skipping past two challenges to feed compatriot Matheus, whose accurate curling effort from 20 meters out went in beyond a diving Kashima keeper Tomoki Hayakawa.
Kashima got one back in the 36th minute in an unexpected manner when Ryotaro Araki passed inside the box to striker Leo Ceara, who was trying to get back up to his feet following a tangle and totally unaware as the ball bounced off him and looped into the net.
The visitors failed to turn their dominance into chances after the break, however, and it was Marinos who had a golden opportunity in the 71st minute when Ren Kato had a shot saved at the near post, leaving an unmarked Lopes -- who was waiting for a tap-in -- furious.
But it mattered little in the end as Marinos hung on to claim their first win since March 16, moving up to 11 points and eight points off safety.
Elsewhere, Sanfrecce Hiroshima beat FC Tokyo 3-0 away for their fifth straight win to move up to 32 points, while 10-man Kyoto Sanga suffered a late 1-0 loss at Tokyo Verdy to remain on 31 points.
Shimizu S-Pulse saw off Vissel Kobe 3-2, Fagiano Okayama drew 2-2 with Machida Zelvia and Albirex Niigata came from behind to beat Shonan Bellmare 2-1 to move up to 16 points, five points above Marinos.
Kawasaki Frontale and Gamba Osaka drew 2-2.