Kyoto Sanga Rallies to Beat Niigata, Takes J-League Lead

Kyoto Sanga secured a 2-1 comeback victory against Albirex Niigata on Saturday, propelled by a late goal from substitute Masaya Okugawa. The match, played in Niigata, saw Kyoto capitalize on their limited opportunities, scoring with their only shots on target. This win propelled Kyoto to the top of the J-League first division standings.

The decisive goal came in the 86th minute, courtesy of Okugawa, who previously played for Red Bull Salzburg and Arminia Bielefeld. This victory allowed Kyoto to accumulate 21 points, establishing a two-point lead over Avispa Fukuoka, who were scheduled to play on Sunday. Conversely, Niigata remained in the relegation zone with eight points.

Niigata had initially taken the lead in the 19th minute at Denka Big Swan Stadium. A penalty was awarded after Jin Okumura was fouled by Kyoto's Shimpei Fukuoka inside the penalty area, following a review. Ken Yamura successfully converted the penalty, giving the home team the advantage heading into halftime.

Kyoto managed to equalize in the 73rd minute. Rafael Elias scored his eighth goal of the season, tying for the league lead. The goal came after a defensive lapse by Niigata, where a ball from Taichi Hara bounced towards the goal, allowing Elias to capitalize.

With ten minutes remaining, Elias missed a header. However, his forward pass led to Okugawa's winning goal. Okugawa capitalized on another defensive error, shooting through the legs of goalkeeper Kazuki Fujita.

Following the match, Okugawa expressed his confidence in the team's ability to turn the game around with the help of the substitutes. He explained his thought process during the decisive play, ultimately deciding to aim for a shot between the goalkeeper's legs.