It came deep into stoppage time, but Kawasaki Frontale got the win they needed over Yokohama F·Marinos to kick off a proper title fight. Check out that and the rest of the action from a terrific Matchweek 24 in the Meiji Yasuda J1 League.
Kawasaki Frontale 2, Yokohama F·Marinos 1
Leandro Damião and Teruhito Nakagawa traded first half goals, but Jesiel made sure the teams would not draw as he rose highest for a fabulous header nine minutes into stoppage time for a massive Frontale victory. The champions now trail Marinos by just eight points with two matches in hand.
Kyoto Sanga 1, Kashiwa Reysol 2
Yuki Muto scored eight minutes into stoppage time to complete a comeback victory for Reysol that gives them four wins in a row and moves them into second place, just six points back of the top.
Cerezo Osaka 3, Vissel Kobe 0
Aussie Adam Taggart scored first, followed by Tokuma Suzuki and Mutsuki Sato, in a dominant showing for the Sakura, who have gone seven unbeaten and are third in the table.
Kashima Antlers 0, Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2
Takumu Kawamura came off the bench to score in the 83rd minute and fellow sub Ezequiel added another in stoppage time as the Viola extended Kashima’s winless run.
F.C.Tokyo 0, Shimizu S-Pulse 2
Brazilians led the way as Carlinhos Júnior and Thiago Santana scored to notch a big three points that move S-Pulse out of the drop zone.
Sagan Tosu 2, Júbilo Iwata 0
Taisei Miyashiro’s tally put Sagan in front and Yuki Kakita wrapped up the good win for the home side as Júbilo’s hopes of avoiding relegation took a blow.
Nagoya Grampus 3, Urawa Reds 0
Nagoya were spectacular in front of their home crowd, riding goals by Takuya Shigehiro, Mateus and Kensuke Nagai to end Urawa’s unbeaten streak at eight and notch one of their best wins of the season.
Shonan Bellmare 1, Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo 5
Consa were flying in Hiratsuka, getting goals from five different players and an assist from Supachok Sarachat four minutes into his J1 debut for a show-stopping victory.
Avispa Fukuoka, Gamba Osaka
Postponed.
