MATSUYAMA, Japan (Interstat) — Substitute Keito Kumashiro delivered a stunning impact off the bench, scoring one goal and assisting on another just moments after entering the pitch, but his efforts were only enough to secure a 1-1 draw for Roasso Kumamoto against Ehime FC in a J2 League match on Sunday.

The contest, played before a crowd at Ningineer Stadium, saw both clubs open their league campaigns with identical records after a match defined by a frantic start and a second-half stalemate.

The game ignited immediately from the opening kickoff. Kumashiro, introduced as a substitute for Roasso Kumamoto, needed only two minutes to make his mark. He found the net with his first touch of the game, giving the visiting side a shock early lead. The goal, officially timed in the second minute, was assisted by Ehime defender Hayato Fukushima.

Roasso Kumamoto held the advantage for the majority of the first half, but Ehime found an equalizer just before the break. The play was engineered by Kumashiro, who turned provider in the 45th minute. His pass set up Ehime forward Yuhi Murakami, who finished clinically to level the score at 1-1 heading into halftime.

The second half failed to produce another goal, but was not without incident as the physical intensity escalated. Three yellow cards were issued by the officiating crew in a span of 18 minutes. Roasso Kumamoto’s Shohei Mishima was booked in the 58th minute, followed by Ehime’s Fukushima in the 71st minute. Kumashiro, the standout performer of the match, received a caution in the 76th minute for his involvement in a midfield challenge.

The final score aligned with the projection from Interstat’s game simulator, which had forecast a 1-1 draw. However, the result defied the pre-match probability from the same service’s ELO system, which had given Roasso Kumamoto a 53.20 percent chance of securing a victory on the road.

With the result, both teams begin their J2 League seasons with a single point. Ehime’s record stands at zero wins, zero losses and one draw, mirroring Roasso Kumamoto’s zero wins, zero losses and one draw. The records for both clubs across all competitions also stand at zero wins, zero losses and one draw following this season-opening fixture.