In a pulsating contest at Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima, Sanfrecce Hiroshima staged a dramatic late comeback to defeat Machida Zelvia 2-1 in J1 League action, with decisive goals in the final moments sealing a victory that could prove crucial in the race for the top four.

Despite dominating possession from the outset—Hiroshima held 69% of the ball and launched 15 shots—Michael Skibbe’s side fell behind early in the second half. Machida Zelvia, well-organized under Go Kuroda, absorbed pressure before striking clinically on the break. The deadlock was broken in the 50th minute, when Hiroyuki Mae’s incisive pass released Yuki Soma, who finished coolly past Keisuke Osako to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. The goal was emblematic of Zelvia’s season: disciplined defending combined with sharp counterattacks.

Hiroshima refused to be rattled and pressed forward relentlessly, forcing Machida’s Kosei Tani into several important saves. With time slipping away, the hosts finally broke through in the 88th minute. Substitute Kim Ju-Sung latched onto a precise cross from D. Suga, steering a header home to level the score at 1-1. The stadium erupted, but the drama was far from over.

Deep into stoppage time, with the match poised to end in a draw, Hiroshima earned a penalty following a chaotic scramble in Zelvia’s box. Tolgay Arslan stepped up under immense pressure and coolly converted the spot kick in the 95th minute, completing the turnaround and sending the home fans into raptures. Arslan’s goal capped a whirlwind finish and provided a memorable climax to a match that had seemed destined to slip away from the hosts.

Statistically, Hiroshima’s dominance was clear beyond the scoreline: they attempted 484 passes at a 76% completion rate and earned 10 corners, compared to Zelvia’s lone corner and 232 passes at 59% accuracy. Zelvia, meanwhile, committed 15 fouls and collected one yellow card—a sign of their gritty, sometimes desperate defense as Hiroshima’s siege intensified late.

The victory lifts Sanfrecce Hiroshima provisionally into the league’s top four, leapfrogging Machida Zelvia, whose own ambitions for continental qualification take a hit. For Hiroshima, the manner of this comeback—seized in the frantic dying minutes—will serve as a signature moment in their campaign, underscoring both their resilience and attacking depth.

For multimedia highlights, official match recap videos from highly subscribed J.League partners such as DAZN Japan (over 1 million YouTube followers) and J.LEAGUE International (over 200,000 followers) provide comprehensive footage of Soma’s opener, Kim’s equalizer, and Arslan’s decisive penalty, capturing the late-game euphoria and the intensity of the contest (see DAZN Japan’s and J.LEAGUE International’s official YouTube recaps).

Sanfrecce’s late heroics have set the stage for a compelling run-in as the J1 season approaches its final stretch. For Machida Zelvia, regrouping after such a gut-wrenching defeat will be the challenge as they look to stay in contention for the upper echelons of Japanese football.