Two-time reigning champions Kashima Antlers made a real statement of intent towards an unprecedented hat-trick of titles with a 1-0 win away to last year’s AFC Champions League winners Gamba Osaka yesterday afternoon. Despite resting several first team regulars in their inconsequential defeat to FC Seoul on Wednesday, Gamba were fatally slow to come out of the blocks, and this played right into the hands of Kashima as the returning Koji Nakata scrambled home the game’s only goal after just 16 minutes.
The home side did recover its rhythm as the match progressed, but the absence of the injured Leandro was keenly felt as they struggled to break down a strong Antlers defence. Cho Jae-Jin came closest when his looped shot bounced off the top of Hitoshi Sogahata’s crossbar, while 17-year-old striking sensation Takashi Usami was unable to repeat his goalscoring performance in midweek with another on his league debut.
The victory for Kashima appears most significant because of its timing. Third-place Albirex Niigata had gone down to a shock 1-0 defeat at home to Shimizu S-Pulse the day before, while nearest rivals Urawa Reds were held 1-1 away at struggling Omiya Ardija in the Saitama derby later on Sunday. Kashima now lead Urawa and Niigata by four and seven points respectively - with a game in hand to boot - ahead of a four-week break for international fixtures.
Elsewhere, Kawasaki Frontale recorded their third league win in a row to move up to fourth after a thrilling battle away at FC Tokyo. Frontale had looked dead and buried as the capital club went 2-0 up early in the second half, but a red card for Bruno Quadros and the resulting penalty kick sparked a rapid-fire comeback in which the away side netted three times in just ten minutes.
Jubilo Iwata and Sanfrecce Hiroshima continued their rises up the table with wins over Nagoya Grampus and Oita Trinita, whose run of consecutive league defeats now stands at ten. Kashiwa Reysol are also in danger of being cast adrift at the bottom after a fourth straight defeat, away to Vissel Kobe, but JEF United Chiba were at least able to pick up one point in a 1-1 draw with Yokohama F Marinos. Montedio Yamagata drew 0-0 with Kyoto Sanga in Saturday’s remaining match.
J1 results (matchday 13)
Albirex Niigata 0-1 Shimizu S-Pulse
Oita Trinita 0-1 Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Montedio Yamagata 0-0 Kyoto Sanga
JEF United Chiba 1-1 Yokohama F Marinos
Vissel Kobe 3-1 Kashiwa Reysol
Gamba Osaka 0-1 Kashima Antlers
FC Tokyo 2-3 Kawasaki Frontale
Jubilo Iwata 2-1 Nagoya Grampus
Omiya Ardija 1-1 Urawa Reds
![subscribe_with_itunes[1].gif](http://minutecast.up.seesaa.net/image/itunes.jpg)
![fbj[1].gif](http://minutecast.up.seesaa.net/image/fbj5B15D-thumbnail2.gif)
![feed_button[1].gif](http://minutecast.up.seesaa.net/image/feed_button5B15D-thumbnail2.gif){kind=small}