Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo has finally broken free from their early season struggles by securing their first victory of the J2 season with a 3-1 win against Blaublitz Akita on March 15, 2025. After suffering four consecutive losses since the start of the season, this victory not only halts their disappointing run but also brings much-needed confidence to the team and its supporters.
The match took place at Soyu Stadium in Akita City, where Sapporo was determined to turn their fortunes around after going scoreless for three matches and conceding ten goals up to this point. The team, under the guidance of coach Daiki Iwamasa, made several adjustments targeting improved performances, and the results came quickly during the match.
Consadole took the lead early on, with midfielder Ryota Aoki finding the net just 15 minutes after the whistle. Aoki received the ball inside the penalty area before weaving through defenders and unleashing a powerful right-footed strike, marking his first goal of the season.
Building on this momentum, Sapporo doubled their advantage just eight minutes later when Yushi Kondo capitalized on great teamwork. After Aoki's initial attempt, he set up Kondo beautifully with a left-side cross, allowing Kondo to finish with his left foot for his first goal of the season.
The team's offensive display did not stop there. Just three minutes after the break, defender Tokiomi Somekawa made it 3-0 by sliding the ball home after a corner kick delivered by Spachog resulted in some confusion among the Akita defenders, allowing for the simple finish.
Despite Sapporo’s commanding lead, Akita wasn’t ready to give up easily. They responded with their own goal just minutes after Sapporo’s third, courtesy of forward Yutaka Komatsu, who directed the ball past the keeper with a well-placed header after connecting with a cross from midfielder Kayuki Tsubaki.
This goal marked Komatsu's sixth of the season, and he currently leads the scoring rankings after netting goals consecutively throughout the opening matches.
Even with Akita pushing to close the gap, Sapporo’s stand-in goalkeeper, Koji Nakano, who started for the first time this season, proved to be key. His performance, alongside the strong defensive efforts of the team, secured Sapporo’s 3-1 victory.
Reflecting on the match, coach Iwamasa praised his players’ determination and character, stating, "The players did their best, and the supporters were also wonderful. I think we saw recently good play emerge, indicating they finally broke their shell." This enthusiasm for the victory is shared among the players. Kondo emphasized, "It took quite some time to reach this win angle—three points—but it feels good to have taken the first step. Communication on the pitch was much improved, as well as our effort to run and fight, which I believe contributed to our victory."
Looking forward, Iwamasa is eager for the team to build on this win. "The point total we aim for is still distant, so I hope to use this as our first step and keep progressing with two or three more positive results. It took great effort under pressure, so I want to refresh their minds and reinforce our abilities as we prepare for our next match against Ehime on March 23 at Ninja Stadium in Matsuyama."
The victory not only boosts confidence for the players but also brings hope to the passionate supporters of Consadole Sapporo, who have patiently awaited this win. For now, the team looks to replicate and build upon this performance against Ehime and regain their form after this rough beginning to the season.