SHIZUOKA, Japan (Interstat) — Substitute Lucas Marcos provided a goal and an assist to propel visiting Fagiano Okayama to a 2-1 comeback victory over Shimizu S-Pulse in a J1 League match Saturday at IAI Stadium Nihondaira.

The result, which defied pregame projections, handed Okayama a winning start to its league campaign while delivering a home defeat for Shimizu to begin the season.

The match, played on Dec. 6, 2025, was largely controlled by the home side for the first hour, in line with statistical expectations. Data firm Interstat had given Shimizu S-Pulse a 67.5 percent probability to win and its game simulator projected a 1-1 draw. However, Fagiano Okayama’s efficiency in the final third overturned the script.

After a first half with few clear chances, the game sparked to life just past the hour mark. The breakthrough came in the 63rd minute when Marcos, who had entered the match as a substitute, found the net to give the visitors a surprising 1-0 lead. His celebration was quickly tempered, however, as he received a yellow card just two minutes later.

Okayama doubled its advantage in the 76th minute through another substitute, Ataru Esaka, who finished clinically to stun the home crowd. The assist on the play was credited to Yuta Kamiya, who had also come off the bench and was earlier shown a yellow card in the 32nd minute.

Shimizu S-Pulse refused to capitulate and mounted a late push for a result. Deep into second-half stoppage time, in the 90th minute, forward Toshiki Takahashi scored to give the hosts a lifeline. The goal was set up by Marcos, who capped his influential substitute appearance with the helper.

The final whistle sounded shortly after, sealing a 2-1 triumph for Fagiano Okayama. The victory gives Okayama a record of one win and no losses to open its J1 League season, while Shimizu S-Pulse starts with one loss and no wins. The records across all competitions for both clubs are identical to their league starts.

The match was a testament to the impact of effective substitutions, with three of the four key performers entering the game off the bench. Marcos’s dynamic performance was the central catalyst in Okayama overcoming the pregame odds and securing three points on the road.