FC Imabari 3-3 Vanraure Hachinohe: Six-Goal Thriller Ends in Dramatic Stoppage-Time Equaliser

FC Imabari and Vanraure Hachinohe played out a remarkable 3-3 draw in the J2 League on Saturday 17 October 2026, with the visitors salvaging a point deep into stoppage time at the end of a breathless, end-to-end contest.

Twice Imabari looked to have done enough to claim all three points, and twice Hachinohe responded, capping the comeback with a goal in the fourth minute of added time that silenced the home support and sparked wild celebrations in the away end.

Match Overview

Few inside the ground could have predicted such drama after a measured opening quarter. Imabari, playing with confidence in front of their own fans, took the game to their opponents and were rewarded with an early breakthrough. When they doubled the lead before the break, the contest appeared to be heading towards a routine home victory.

Hachinohe, however, had other ideas. A goal on the stroke of half-time changed the entire mood of the match, and the visitors returned after the interval transformed — pressing higher, committing more bodies forward and dragging Imabari into a scrappy, wide-open contest that swung one way and then the other.

Key Moments

• 12th minute: Imabari take the lead, a flowing move down the right ending with a composed finish from close range.
• 34th minute: It is 2-0 — a swift counter-attack and a low strike across the goalkeeper into the bottom corner.
• 45+2nd minute: Hachinohe halve the deficit with a header from a corner, a goal that proves decisive for the momentum of the game.
• 58th minute: The visitors equalise, capitalising on a loose ball in the box and firing high into the net.
• 76th minute: Imabari restore their advantage with a curling effort from the edge of the area that clips the post on its way in.
• 85th minute: A superb double save from the Imabari goalkeeper looks to have preserved the win.
• 90+4th minute: Hachinohe level again, bundling the ball over the line after a frantic scramble from a long throw.

Tactical Story

The match turned into a lesson in momentum. Imabari's early control came from patient build-up and intelligent movement between the lines, with their wide players repeatedly finding space behind the Hachinohe full-backs. The two-goal cushion, though, bred a degree of complacency, and the concession just before the interval gave the visitors a foothold they never relinquished.

Hachinohe's second-half approach was far more aggressive: a higher defensive line, quicker switches of play and a willingness to load the box with crosses. That directness unsettled Imabari, whose attempts to slow the tempo and manage the game were repeatedly undermined by turnovers in dangerous areas.

Standout Performers

Imabari's attacking midfielder was the most creative player on the pitch for long spells, involved in two of his side's three goals and consistently finding pockets of space. Their goalkeeper also deserved credit for a string of important saves, even if he was eventually beaten at the death.

For Hachinohe, the substitute introduced midway through the second half changed the game, adding physical presence in the box and providing the assist for the equaliser. Their captain drove the comeback from midfield with relentless running and a series of aggressive, well-timed tackles.

What It Means in the Table

For Imabari, this will feel like two points lost rather than one gained. Leading twice and conceding in stoppage time is a painful way to drop points, particularly at home, and it leaves them looking over their shoulder in a congested J2 League table.

Hachinohe, by contrast, will take enormous belief from the result. Coming from behind twice away from home speaks volumes about the character within the squad, and the point keeps them moving in the right direction as the season progresses. Both teams will know that defensive concentration, not attacking flair, is the priority in the weeks ahead.