Shimizu S-Pulse are the new leaders of J1 after defending champions Kashima Antlers suffered a club record-equalling fourth consecutive league defeat at home to Albirex Niigata. Despite dominating the possession throughout the 90 minutes, Kashima were unable to find their way past an inspired Takashi Kitano in the Niigata goal, and luck deserted them altogether when Marcio Richardes volleyed home a rare chance for the visitors just before the half hour mark which proved enough to seal all three points.
The result means that Kashima are now off the summit for the first time in five months, in spite of Shimizu’s failure to beat Sanfrecce Hiroshima on Saturday afternoon. Japan striker Shinji Okazaki scored right on half time to cancel out Hisato Sato’s opener, and while there were opportunities for S-Pulse to complete the turnaround after the break, the single point ultimately proved enough to take Kenta Hasegawa’s side above the Antlers on goal difference.
Gamba Osaka are just a point behind in third after four second half goals - including a first for recent signing Pedro Junior - gave them a comfortable win over Omiya Ardija despite trailing 1-0 at the interval. Kawasaki Frontale recovered from their Asian Champions League exit at the hands of Nagoya Grampus with a 2-0 victory over Yokohama F Marinos, and will move level with Gamba should the 3-1 lead they held in their abandoned meeting with Kashima last month be turned into three points when the final 16 minutes are played this Wednesday.
FC Tokyo moved up to seventh after coming from behind to win 2-1 at a tired-looking Grampus, with Urawa Reds just behind them on goal difference after a 3-1 victory over JEF United Chiba. A 2-1 win at Kashiwa Reysol allowed Jubilo Iwata to rise two places to tenth, as Kansai rivals Vissel Kobe and Kyoto Sanga drew 1-1 at Home’s Stadium Kobe.
With six games to play, Kashiwa and Chiba are now respectively four and eight points away from safety after 15th-placed Montedio Yamagata became the third team in a row to draw 0-0 with bottom club Oita Trinita, whose relegation to J2 could be confirmed after the next round of matches in a fortnight’s time.
J1 results (matchday 28)
Shimizu S-Pulse 1-1 Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Montedio Yamagata 0-0 Oita Trinita
Kashiwa Reysol 1-2 Jubilo Iwata
Urawa Reds 3-1 JEF United Chiba
Vissel Kobe 1-1 Kyoto Sanga
Kawasaki Frontale 2-0 Yokohama F Marinos
Gamba Osaka 4-1 Omiya Ardija
Kashima Antlers 0-1 Albirex Niigata
Nagoya Grampus 1-2 FC Tokyo
AFC Champions League quarter-final second leg results
Nagoya Grampus 3-1 Kawasaki Frontale (Nagoya win 4-3 on aggregate)
Al-Ittihad (KSA) 4-0 Pakhtakor Taskent (UZB) (Al-Ittihad win 5-1 on aggregate)
FC Seoul (KOR) 1-1 Umm-Salal (QAT) (Umm-Salal win 4-3 on aggregate)
Pohang Steelers (KOR) 4-1 Bunyodkor (UZB) (after extra time; Pohang win 5-4 on aggregate)
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