FC TOKYO provisionally moved to the top of the East table in the MEIJI YASUDA J1 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE as REGIONAL ROUND Match Week 14 got underway on Saturday, thanks to a 2-0 win over Kawasaki Frontale.
Kein Sato opened the scoring with a bouncing effort four minutes before half-time at Ajinomoto Stadium, before Leon Nozawa wrapped up the victory when he swept home in the 57th minute.
The win moved FC TOKYO onto 32 points at the summit, ahead of Kashima Antlers, who play Sunday, on goal difference.
Meanwhile, West leaders Vissel Kobe had a torrid afternoon at Panasonic Stadium Suita, where they were roundly beaten 5-0 by a rampant Gamba Osaka.
Headers from Harumi Minamino in the 22nd minute and Genta Miura 14 minutes later gave G-Osaka control of proceedings in the first half, before Minamino again converted with his head seven minutes into the second period.
Kanji Okunuki then tucked in from close range in the 80th minute, before Deniz Hummet rounded off the scoring when he rifled in a fifth two minutes later, moving G-Osaka to within a point of Kobe on 25 points - albeit having played two games more.
Elsewhere in the West, Shimizu S-Pulse struck twice in quick succession to come from behind and beat Kyoto Sanga F.C. 2-1, and Fagiano Okayama edged a tight contest against Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1-0.
Marco Tulio put Kyoto in front with a delicate lob after 16 minutes at SANGA STADIUM by KYOCERA, but Zento Uno equalised for Shimizu with a skidding strike from distance in the 64th minute and Yudai Shimamoto completed the turnaround when he lashed in four minutes later.
Leo Gaucho’s solitary strike was enough to extend Okayama’s unbeaten run to three games, with the Brazilian heading in Towa Yamane’s cross with seven minutes remaining at JFE Harenokuni Stadium.
Back in the East, the day’s two other games saw Urawa Reds defeat JEF United Chiba 2-0 and Mito Hollyhock triumph 3-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw against Yokohama F･Marinos.
A goal in each half from Kenta Nemoto and Hiiro Komori was enough to secure Urawa’s second consecutive win, leaving Chiba bottom of the table after a fifth defeat in a row (four in regulation time, one on penalties).
Mito sit level on 18 points with Urawa, thanks to their fourth penalty-shoot-out win of the campaign.
Kaina Tanimura broke the deadlock for Yokohama F･M with a header after five minutes at Nissan Stadium, but Arata Watanabe equalised when he tucked in a rebound 22 minutes later.
With Mito then perfect from the spot and Yokohama F･M missing three of their first four kicks, the visitors were able to celebrate another two points.
FC TOKYO vs Kawasaki Frontale - Game Highlights | MW14
Gamba Osaka vs Vissel Kobe - Game Highlights | MW14
Kyoto Sanga F.C. vs Shimizu S-Pulse - Game Highlights | MW14
Urawa Reds vs JEF United Chiba - Game Highlights | MW14
Yokohama F•Marinos vs Mito Hollyhock - Game Highlights | MW14
