The all-Japanese quarter-final of the AFC Champions League remains delicately poised after Kawasaki Frontale came from behind to secure a 2-1 first leg victory at home to J. League rivals Nagoya Grampus.
Frontale had decided to switch the game from their usual home of Todoroki to the National Stadium in Tokyo, which will serve as the venue for this year’s final, but a reduced crowd of just under 18,000 people were silenced when Joshua Kennedy headed home a Naoshi Nakamura cross after 28 minutes to give Grampus a 1-0 lead.
The ‘home’ side fought back after the interval, and equalised on the hour when Kengo Nakamura somehow managed to squeeze a low free kick inside Koichi Hirono’s near post. The comeback was completed three minutes later, as Juninho forced the ball home following Hiroyuki Taniguchi’s initial effort, but the away goal conceded will ensure Kawasaki still have plenty to do when they visit Nagoya for the return match next week.
Coach Takashi Sekizuka remains confident in his side’s ability to fight on all four fronts, but Frontale’s J1 title bid took a major blow over the five-day weekend with defeat at home to Urawa Reds. With Kashima Antlers going down to a fourth league reverse in six away to Yokohama F Marinos, the championship now suddenly seems up for grabs, and Shimizu S-Pulse look best placed to challenge after moving up to second with a 1-0 win at Montedio Yamagata. S-Pulse are now just four points behind Kashima, with Sanfrecce Hiroshima two points further back in third following a 1-1 draw at Kashiwa Reysol.
The results left Montedio just one point ahead of Reysol either side of the relegation line, with JEF United Chiba three points behind them after a late strike from Kohei Kudo sealed a 2-2 draw away to Vissel Kobe.
Gamba Osaka’s title challenge is still on thanks to a useful point at FC Tokyo that moved them seven points behind the leaders, but Albirex Niigata are now 10 points off the pace after a dismal goalless draw at home to bottom club Oita Trinita. Nagoya rose to eighth with victory at Omiya Ardija, while Jubilo Iwata took a comfortable 3-0 win over Kyoto Sanga.
AFC Champions League quarter-final first leg results
Kawasaki Frontale 2-1 Nagoya Grampus
Bunyodkor (UZB) 3-1 Pohang Steelers (KOR)
Umm-Salal (QAT) 3-2 FC Seoul (KOR)
Pakhtakor Taskent (UZB) v Al-Ittihad (KSA)
J1 results (matchday 26)
Albirex Niigata 0-0 Oita Trinita
Jubilo Iwata 3-0 Kyoto Sanga
FC Tokyo 0-0 Gamba Osaka
Yokohama F Marinos 2-1 Kashima Antlers
Omiya Ardija 0-2 Nagoya Grampus
Montedio Yamagata 0-1 Shimizu S-Pulse
Kawasaki Frontale 0-2 Urawa Reds
Kashiwa Reysol 1-1 Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Vissel Kobe 2-2 JEF United Chiba
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