Match highlights
Giravanz Kitakyushu vs FC Osaka highlights
How the goals came
24' Akimori Yoshida opens the scoring for Giravanz Kitakyushu → 74' Daigo Takahashi extends Giravanz Kitakyushu's lead (the winner) → 82' Sho Sumida pulls one back for FC Osaka → 84' Maki Nishimura extends Giravanz Kitakyushu's lead. Full time: 3-1, Giravanz Kitakyushu win.
The match, goal by goal
3 of the 4 goals came after half-time.
24' Akimori Yoshida (Giravanz Kitakyushu) 1-0
The deadlock broke in the 24th minute, when Akimori Yoshida put Giravanz Kitakyushu ahead for 1-0. It was the first goal of an afternoon that had begun level at 0-0. From that point in the first half, the home side played with a lead they would not surrender.
74' Daigo Takahashi (Giravanz Kitakyushu) 2-0
Kitakyushu's lead stood at 1-0 for nearly 50 minutes before Daigo Takahashi doubled it in the 74th. The second goal of the match made it 2-0 and left FC Osaka needing two in the closing stages. For the home team it was a cushion built late in the second half.
82' Sho Sumida (FC Osaka) 2-1
FC Osaka's response arrived in the 82nd minute through Sho Sumida, who cut the deficit to 2-1. The visitors were back within a single goal with time still on the clock. It proved to be the only goal of the match scored by a side other than Kitakyushu.
84' Maki Nishimura (Giravanz Kitakyushu) 3-1
Just two minutes after conceding, Kitakyushu restored the two-goal margin: Maki Nishimura scored in the 84th for 3-1. FC Osaka's foothold had lasted barely any time at all. Nishimura's strike closed the scoring and settled the result in the home team's favour.
