Ventforet Kofu edge past Consadole Sapporo in narrow J-League 2 affair
Ventforet Kofu claimed a 2-1 victory over Consadole Sapporo in their J-League 2 Regular Season 4 clash at the J-ai-t Resycle Inc Stadium on Saturday. The hosts took an early shock in the third minute when S. Sarachat fired home for the visitors, but Kofu responded with two second-half strikes to turn the game around. It was a result that moved Kofu to four points from four games, while Sapporo remained stuck on three following their third defeat of the season.
And here's the thing about the opening goal — one minute into the match and Sapporo had already found a way back into it, catching the home side off guard. Sarachat's finish caught the defence sleeping, and suddenly the visitors were ahead at a venue where they had won 3-1 just three days earlier. Kofu had to respond, and they did, but not before Naito equalised in the 55th minute with a well-taken effort.
The second half brought a flurry of activity around the hour mark. Kido went into the book for Sapporo in the 58th minute, and then came a wave of substitutions that reshaped both sides. Sarachat came off for Kofu at 59 minutes, replaced by Horigome, while Fujii's goal in the 64th minute gave the hosts the lead they had been pushing for. The visitors threw bodies forward after that, with Pruetong, Park Min-Gyu, and Kido all making appearances.
To be fair, the statistics tell a story that doesn't quite match the result. Sapporo dominated possession at 62 per cent and registered more attacks at 108 compared to Kofu's 83. But here's where it gets interesting — the visitors managed only three shots on target all game, while Kofu found the target six times. They found a way through when it mattered, and that is often how these tight matches are decided.
The table situation remains precarious for both sides. Kofu sit 16th with four points from four fixtures, while Sapporo languish in 17th place with just three points after one win and three losses. Neither side has much room for error in this division, and Saturday's result means the gap between them stays at one point. The hosts held their nerve after going behind, and that experience showed through in the closing stages.
Seven substitutions were made across the match, with Kofu bringing on Murakami, Park Min-Gyu, Naito, and Inoue from the bench. Yellow cards went to Kido, Nishino, and Uchida for the visitors, while the hosts kept their disciplinary record clean. The final whistle brought a relief rather than a celebration for the home crowd — another three points earned, but not without the anxiety that comes from watching a game slip away and then clawing back.