J.League wrap: Omiya extend advantage as Urawa held

Omiya Ardija increased their lead at the top of the J.League with a 2-1 win over Nagoya Grampus on Wednesday.

Omiya came from behind to take all three points, attackers Milivoje Novakovic and Yu Hasegawa netting the all-important goals in the second half after Naoshi Nakamura had given the visitors the lead inside seven minutes.

Zdenko Verdenik’s men are now five points clear of nearest challengers Urawa Reds after they had to come from behind to take a point against Tokyo, drawing 2-2.

The team from the capital moved two goals to the good after Hirotaka Mita and Aria Jasuru Hasegawa found the back of the net, but Urawa staged a dramatic late comeback , forwards Shinzo Koroki and Genki Haraguchi both scoring late on to clinch a share of the spoils.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima are now just a point further back after they eased to a 4-2 home win over Kawasaki Frontale.

Striker Hisato Sato netted a hat-trick to take his tally to 12 for the season, while Hwang Seok-Ho also hit the target as Sanfrecce cruised to victory despite goals from Kengo Nakamura and Sota Nakazawa for Kawasaki.

Fourth-place Yokohama F. Marinos slipped to defeat at Cerezo Osaka side which continues to display strong form. Midfielders Yoichirio Kakitani and Fabio Simplicio putting Cerezo in command before Marquinhos scored a late consolation for Yokohama.

Kashima Antlers are level on points with Yokohama by virtue of their 3-1 home success over Shimizu S-Pulse. Brazilian attacker Juninho, midfielder Takeshi Aoki and winger Takuya Nozawa guiding Kashima to an easy triumph after Shimizu had taken the initiative after 19 minutes through Sho Ito.

Yohei Toyoda was the hero for Sagan Tosu as they claimed a much needed win over Ventforet Kofu in their fight against the drop, scoring from the spot before Sho Sasaki equalised after 81 minutes for Kofu.

Toyoda and Sagan were not to be denied though, the midfielder scoring his 10th of the campaign in the 91st minute to clinch a 2-1 victory for the hosts in a game where Vontforet keeper Kohei Kawata was sent off.

However, Tosu are still only three points above the drop after fellow strugglers Jubilo Iwata edged past Albirex Niigata 2-1.

Striker Ryohei Yamazaki claimed the vital goal for Jubilo, scoring in injury-time to secure triumph after team-mate Hidetaka Kanazono had cancelled out Kengo Kawamata’s 27th-minute strike.

Kashiwa Reysol earned a slender 2-1 success at relegation threatened Shonan Bellmare. Shonan went ahead after 61 minutes with a goal from Masashi Kamekawa, but Junya Tanaka and Naoya Kondo scored late for Reysol to spare their blushes.

Elsewhere Velgata Sendai squeaked past bottom squeaked past Oita Trinita thanks to a 43rd minute effort from Naoki Sugai.