Own goal heartbreak extends Kobe's winning streak (Vissel Kobe vs Machida Zelvia analysis) | OneFootball

Vissel Kobe Edge Past Machida Zelvia Thanks to Own Goal

Vissel Kobe continued their impressive run of form with a narrow 1-0 victory over Machida Zelvia at NOEVIR Stadium on Sunday, securing their third consecutive win in the J1 League.

Match Decided by Unfortunate Error

The decisive moment came in the 62nd minute when Machida defender Daihachi Okamura turned Yosuke Ideguchi's cross into his own net. Despite an otherwise solid defensive performance that included winning 13 of 18 duels, Okamura's unfortunate intervention proved the difference between the sides.

Vissel thought they had doubled their advantage in the 81st minute when Yoshinori Muto found the net, but VAR intervened to rule the strike offside, ensuring a tense finish to proceedings.

Contrasting Styles on Display

The tactical battle highlighted the teams' differing philosophies, with Takayuki Yoshida's Kobe dominating possession (66%) and completing 470 passes at a 73% success rate. Machida, under Go Kuroda, adopted a more direct approach, registering more shots (15 to Kobe's 9) despite seeing far less of the ball.

Kobe defender Yuki Honda delivered a standout performance, recording two interceptions, one block, and winning nine duels to help preserve his side's clean sheet. In midfield, Yosuke Ideguchi controlled proceedings with an impressive 29 completed passes from 34 attempts.

For the visitors, Yuki Soma provided their creative spark with five key passes and two successful dribbles, while striker Se-hun Oh battled valiantly up front but couldn't find the breakthrough.

Managers Reflect on Tight Contest

Vissel Kobe manager Takayuki Yoshida praised his team's mental fortitude after the match: "It was good that we did not lose in terms of spirit."

Despite suffering consecutive defeats for the first time this season, Machida boss Go Kuroda remained optimistic: "The direction and what we are aiming for is not bad. I think we are heading in a good direction."

League Table Tightening

The victory propels Vissel Kobe to eighth place with 18 points from 11 matches, while Machida Zelvia drop to 11th with 17 points, highlighting the congested nature of this season's J1 League where just 11 points separate top from bottom.

Both sides have experienced significant squad turnover in 2025, with several players moving directly between the clubs during the winter transfer window. Erik joined Kobe on loan from Machida in March, while defender Ryuho Kikuchi made the opposite journey in January.