Kashiwa Reysol defeated Tokyo Verdy 3:1 at the National Stadium in the second matchday of the J-League 1 regular season. The visitors took control early, with K. Endo equalising after N. Hayashi's opening goal just nine minutes in. The match ended with Kashiwa holding firm despite a cancelled penalty chance for Endo in stoppage time.
Tokyo Verdy started brighter, Hayashi firing past the keeper in the second minute before Kashiwa responded through Endo. The hosts lost their momentum when a penalty for Keita Endo was cancelled by VAR on the stroke of half-time. By then the visitors had settled into their rhythm, pressing higher up the pitch.
Kashiwa extended their lead through Y. Segawa in the 65th minute, capitalising on growing pressure. K. Endo was substituted in the 80th minute after his goal, replaced by Y. Uchida as the visitors managed the game. T. Kubo sealed the victory with a third goal in the 82nd minute before being replaced six minutes later.
Tokyo Verdy made four changes in quick succession from the 54th minute, bringing on R. Hirakawa, Y. Matsuhashi, H. Yamauchi and Y. Kakita. The hosts saw Nobuteru Nakagawa booked in the 59th minute, while Kashiwa's Kaito Suzuki and Masaki Watai received yellow cards late on. S. Meshino was substituted twice in the 73rd and 74th minutes before being brought off again.
Kashiwa dominated possession at 63 per cent, completing 657 passes compared to Tokyo Verdy's 365. The visitors created two big chances and registered six shots on target, while the hosts managed zero big chances and four attempts on goal. Kashiwa also recorded 127 attacks to Tokyo Verdy's 88, with 16 key passes against eight for the hosts.
The result leaves Tokyo Verdy bottom of the table with three points from six games, having failed to secure a win. Kashiwa sit fourth with 12 points, extending their recent form with a third consecutive victory. The hosts have now lost three of their six matches, while Kashiwa have only fallen twice.