J-League wrap: Kashima go three points clear

Kashima Reysol have bolstered their J-League lead with a 3-0 defeat of Vissel Kobe on Saturday, while the honours were shared in Sendai.

Junya Tanaka scored a brace inside of four first-half minutes and Brazilian import Leandro Domingues added a third for the promoted club, who have won six of eight games in a stunning start to their top-flight campaign.

Tanaka opened the scoring in the 21st minute and added a second soon after, stunning a Kobe outfit who travelled to Kashiwa on the back of three straight wins.

The visitors were never able to recover from the early blows, and Brazilian striker Domingues – who led Kashiwa in scoring last season – rubbed salt into their wounds with his third goal of the campaign in the 76th minute.

Kashiwa leads Vegalta Sendai by three points on top of the standings after the latter were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Yokohama F Marinos.

Shingo Akamine put the hosts ahead in the 20th minute with his fourth goal of the season, but former Kawasaki Frontale midfielder Hiroyuki Taniguchi was on hand to equalise for Yokohama on 69 minutes.

In other results, Urawa Red Diamonds and Albirex Niigata fought out a 1-1 draw at the Saitama Stadium, a result mirrored by Montedio Yamagata’s trip to Ventforet Kofu.

Finally, Jubilo Iwata enjoyed success on the road by holding Shimizu S-Pulse to a 0-0 draw.