Captain fantastic! Kawasaki's double fires Kyoto to second (Kyoto Sanga vs Shonan Bellmare analysis) | OneFootball

Kawasaki Brace Lifts Kyoto Sanga to Second in J1 League

Kyoto Sanga climbed to second place in the J1 League after a commanding 2-0 victory over Shonan Bellmare, with captain Sota Kawasaki netting both goals in a performance that highlighted the growing momentum of Cho Kwi-Jae's side.

Match Dominance

Kawasaki broke the deadlock in the 40th minute with a well-taken finish from Hidehiro Sugai's assist before doubling the advantage in the 63rd minute after good work from Taichi Hara. The midfielder's first goals of the season earned him a match-high 8.9 rating as Kyoto extended their unbeaten run to five matches.

Despite Shonan edging possession (52%), Kyoto were more clinical with their opportunities, registering seven shots on target from 16 attempts compared to the visitors' four from 11. Goalkeeper Gakuji Ota made four crucial saves to preserve his clean sheet.

"We executed our game plan perfectly today," said Kawasaki post-match. "The team is finding good rhythm and everyone understands their role in the system."

Title Contenders Emerging

The victory puts Kyoto on 18 points, just one behind temporary leaders Avispa Fukuoka, who claimed a 2-1 win over Yokohama F. Marinos. It marks a significant improvement for Kyoto, who now boast a record of four wins, three draws and two losses this season.

Sugai was instrumental in defence alongside his attacking contribution, making five tackles and two interceptions to earn an 8.2 rating. Rafael Elias, who has six goals this season, remained threatening despite receiving a yellow card in the 30th minute.

Bellmare Struggles Continue

For Shonan Bellmare, the defeat represents their fifth loss in six matches, leaving them ninth in the table on 14 points. Manager Satoshi Yamaguchi's 3-4-2-1 system struggled to contain Kyoto's attacking trio, with only Min Tae Kim (7.5) and Kosuke Onose (7.6) emerging with credit.

The visitors' attacking threats Akito Suzuki and Sho Fukuda, both with three goals this season, failed to make an impact against a disciplined Kyoto defence.

Looking Ahead

Kyoto Sanga face a challenging away trip to Urawa Reds next, while Shonan Bellmare will look to regroup when they host Kashiwa Reysol at Lemon Gas Stadium Hiratsuka.

Elsewhere in the J1 League, Avispa Fukuoka's seven-match unbeaten run has taken them to the summit on 19 points, while Gamba Osaka defeated Nagoya Grampus 2-0 and Cerezo Osaka secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Kashima Antlers.