Kashima Antlers earned a key away win at National Derby rivals Urawa Reds on Thursday in the first match in round 10 of the MEIJI YASUDA J1 League.

While Urawa set the pace in the opening stages at Saitama Stadium, the lone goal of the match came in the 24th minute, when Antlers star Mu Kanazaki received a pass from captain Mitsuo Ogasawara, muscling his way around two Reds players before shooting from the edge of the box.

Reds defender Tomoaki Makino nearly equalised in the 75th minute when his shot bounced off the post, but it was not enough to prevent Antlers from taking three points and jumping into provisional first place.

The remainder of Round 10 will take place between Friday, May 5, and Sunday, May 7.