JEF United Chiba are finally back in J1 for the first time in 17 years. In the Meiji Yasuda J1 Promotion Play-off 2025 Final, a one-off clash against Tokushima Vortis at Fukuda Denshi Arena, Chiba needed only a draw to go up under the regulations. Instead, they chose to win it outright, earning a 1–0 victory thanks to a 69th-minute header from Carlinhos Júnior and turning Fukuari’s promotion showdown into a night of celebration.
It has been a long road since relegation to J2 in 2009. After years of heartbreak in previous promotion play-offs, JEF completed the job this time in the most dramatic fashion: a 4–3 comeback from 0–3 down against RB Omiya in the semi-final, followed by a clean-sheet win in the final. At last, the long-awaited return to the top flight is reality.
Match info: Meiji Yasuda J1 Promotion Play-off 2025 Final
Meiji Yasuda J1 Promotion Play-off 2025 Final
Saturday 13 December 2025, 13:08 KO – Fukuda Denshi Arena
HOME
JEF United Chiba
Chiba
1
1–0
HT 0–0 / 2nd half 1–0
AWAY
Tokushima Vortis
Tokushima
0
Goals
- 69’ Carlinhos Júnior (Chiba)
Key stats
- Shots: Chiba 11 – 16 Tokushima
- Corners: Chiba 1 – 4 Tokushima
- Free-kicks: Chiba 12 – 8 Tokushima
*All data based on the official match report and statistics on the J.League website.
First half: Chiba control the ball but cannot break Tokushima’s wall
Chiba finished 3rd in J2, Tokushima 4th. Even though a draw would have been enough, head coach Yoshiyuki Kobayashi made it clear he wanted his side to “earn promotion by winning”. From kick-off, JEF took control, building attacks through right-back Naohiro Sugiyama and midfield pivot Taishi Taguchi as they pinned Tokushima back.
Tokushima, however, showed why they were among the best defences in J2 this season. Time and again a defender threw himself in front of shots and crosses at the last moment. Chiba created several chances – including a big early opportunity for Carlinhos Júnior in the 6th minute – but the net did not bulge. At the other end, Tokushima threatened on the break through the individual quality of Anderson and the front line, producing counters that made the whole stadium hold its breath.
In the 35th minute, former JEF defender Kohei Yamakoshi, now at Tokushima, was booked as the duels grew fiercer. Both teams had their moments, but the first half ended 0–0, leaving the stands torn between the feeling that “we just need one goal” and the tension of “we simply cannot concede”.
Second half: Tokushima’s pressure, the crossbar scare, and Carlinhos’ decisive header
After the break, Tokushima – who had to win to be promoted – kicked into a higher gear. They won second balls, pushed Chiba back and threatened with long-range efforts and set pieces. One shot from Anderson that crashed off the crossbar was a huge let-off for JEF and a turning point in the game’s momentum.
The key change came in the 66th minute. Kobayashi replaced Sugiyama with 17-year-old midfielder Makoto Himeno. The teenager, who had also sparked the incredible 0–3 to 4–3 comeback against RB Omiya in the semi-final, once again acted as a game-changer, raising the tempo with his direct running and work rate.
And in the 69th minute, the deadlock was broken. On the right, Issei Takahashi took a delicate first touch and floated a cross towards the near post. Timing his run perfectly, Carlinhos Júnior darted across his marker and thumped a header into the right corner. The ball flew beyond the goalkeeper’s reach – a “golden goal” that seemed to release 17 years of frustration in a single moment.
Protecting the lead, Chiba then faced a late siege. Tokushima threw on substitutes and went almost into power-play mode, pumping balls into the box. Centre-back Daisuke Suzuki and the rest of the back line responded with brave blocks and clearances. Himeno was booked in the 89th minute, but JEF managed the risks, ran down the clock and held out through stoppage time to hear the final whistle – and with it, the confirmation of promotion.
Stats show a tight game – and the one moment that decided it
Tokushima led 16–11 in shots, evidence that they created plenty of efforts. Yet in terms of chance quality and game control, Chiba’s ability to avoid falling behind was crucial. The sequence in which Tokushima hit the crossbar and JEF then grabbed the winner shortly afterwards perfectly sums up how the flow tilted in Chiba’s favour.
Although a draw would have been enough, Chiba refused to sit back and simply “defend their way up”. By sticking to a proactive approach and playing to win, they earned a 1–0 scoreline that felt fully deserved in the context of the club’s long struggle.
Coach Kobayashi’s message: “In difficult times, will people still love this club?”
Speaking in his post-match flash interview, head coach Yoshiyuki Kobayashi smiled with a mixture of relief and exhaustion: “I’m unbelievably happy, and unbelievably tired,” he said, reflecting on the weight of those 17 years. He also warned that J1 would be a harsh environment: “There will definitely be difficult periods next season as well. What matters is whether people will keep loving this club even then.” His words, urging supporters to stay with the team through hard times, were met with loud applause.
By framing promotion not as “the end point” but as “a new starting line”, Kobayashi’s comments encapsulated JEF United’s determination to compete properly in J1.
Voices of the heroes: Suzuki, Carlinhos and Himeno
Club captain Daisuke Suzuki was visibly emotional in his post-match interview, tears in his eyes as he thanked the many former players, staff members and supporters who have carried the club through its long J2 years. He also revealed that the players went into the game with a clear mindset: not to “settle for a draw”, but to “win and earn promotion”, underlining how proud he was of their attacking attitude.
Carlinhos Júnior, the match-winner, has often said he came to Japan “to help bring JEF back to where they belong”. True to his words, he became the team’s main source of goals towards the end of the season and through the play-offs, and once again delivered on the biggest stage. After the final whistle he focused less on his own achievement and more on “gratitude to team-mates, staff and supporters”, showing a humble side to his character.
And then there is Makoto Himeno, the 17-year-old midfielder who changed the flow of both the semi-final and the final. Born in the year of the famous “Fukuari miracle” comeback against RB Omiya, he has become a symbol of a new generation. “Just being able to step onto this pitch makes me happy. I want to play even more and show everyone a ‘strong JEF’ again,” he said, already looking ahead to next season.
From 0–3 miracle to J1 return – a new chapter in JEF’s story
The semi-final against RB Omiya, where Chiba came back from a seemingly hopeless 0–3 to win 4–3, completely transformed the atmosphere at Fukuda Denshi Arena. That the same protagonists – Himeno and Carlinhos Júnior – played key roles again in the final suggests that a new set of “main characters” has emerged to lead the club into its next era.
Having carried the weight of past play-off disappointments and a long spell in J2, JEF United Chiba have at last climbed back to the J1 stage. The mentality they showed in these two games – a historic comeback and a clean-sheet win in the decisive match – will be a major asset when they face the challenges of the top flight in 2026.
Tokushima’s quality and the agony of falling just short
Even in defeat, Tokushima Vortis showed their quality. They out-shot Chiba, dominated phases of the second half and displayed the same organised defence and sharp transitions that had brought them success throughout the season. Had the shot that struck the crossbar gone in, we might be telling a very different story.
After the game, head coach Masuda took responsibility for his tactical decisions while praising his players’ efforts. Missing out on promotion by such a narrow margin is a bitter pill to swallow, but the defensive solidity and clear game model Tokushima have built this year will surely be powerful weapons in seasons to come.
What JEF must show in J1 – identity and areas to strengthen
Next season will see both Chiba and Kashiwa in J1, marking the “first year of the Chiba derby” in the top flight. For JEF, a key question will be how quickly they can adapt to the higher pace and physical demands of the league. The aggressive defending and positive transitions they demonstrated in the play-offs suggest they have the potential to compete with many of the division’s stronger sides.
At the same time, there is still room for improvement in game management over 90 minutes and in being clinical in tight matches compared with the J1 elite. Depending on their winter recruitment and the further emergence of young talents, JEF could aim not only for survival but even realistically target a push into the upper half of the table.
Back on the big J1 stage after 17 years, JEF United Ichihara Chiba carry with them all the joy and heartbreak that Fukuda Denshi Arena has seen. What story will they write next? The answer will begin to unfold in the 2026 J1 season.
