Albirex Niigata took all three points away at Gowians Stadium, beating Iwaki 2:3 in the fourth round of J2 League play on Saturday. The visitors had been in control since the half-hour mark, when Yutaka Takahashi struck to put the hosts ahead, but a rapid response from Koji Kuwayama and Murilo Moraes turned the fixture on its head. Iwaki had looked comfortable for large stretches, but the visitors sensed blood when the score was level and threw everything at it.
The opening exchanges were cagey enough. Y. Michiwaki gave Iwaki the lead after nine minutes, before Y. Wakatsuki equalised five minutes later. The visitors never really settled into their rhythm early on, but to be fair, they were not outworked so much as outmanoeuvred. Iwaki pressed higher and won more territory, though their finishing lacked the sharpness they might have expected.
Things came to a head in the second half, when the game opened up completely. Takahashi's goal in the 54th minute appeared to settle Iwaki, but Kuwayama responded within seven minutes and Moraes turned it on for the winner just six minutes after that. Three substitutions poured into the Iwaki side at 62 minutes, but by then the momentum had shifted decisively. The hosts had nothing to do all evening after that moment, and the visitors worked the channels with intention.
Iwaki dominated possession at 58 per cent and registered 109 attacks, yet only managed five shots on target. Niigata were more efficient, landing seven on target from 93 attacks. The visitors also won more corners and more throw-ins, suggesting they kept the ball in dangerous areas rather than forcing play. Three yellow cards for the hosts compared to two for the visitors told a different story of discipline.
The result moves Niigata further clear in the upper reaches of the table. They sit fourth after four matches with nine points, while Iwaki remain rooted to 18th place on just three. The visitors extended a run of two wins from three outings, whereas the hosts have now lost three of their first four league games.