TOKYO: Urawa Reds overcame a turgid start to beat Ventforet Kofu 2-0 on Wednesday, keeping them top of the J-League with last season's treble winners Gamba Osaka in hot pursuit.
Gamba beat the promoted Matsumoto Yamaga 1-0 with Japan striker Takashi Usami equalling a club record by scoring for the sixth game in the row, smashing home a superb goal after 16 minutes.
The unbeaten Urawa have 20 points from eight matches, one more than their fierce rivals, thanks to second-half goals from Tsukasa Umesaki and Slovenia forward Zlatan Ljubijankic in Kofu.
Umesaki profited from shocking Kofu defending to put the Reds in front on 73 minutes before Ljubijankic slammed home the rebound after having his penalty kick blocked five minutes later to seal the points.
FC Tokyo's 1-0 victory at Albirex Niigata kept them hot on the heels of the two former Asian champions with 17 points.
Striker Hisato Sato scored the winner as two-times champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima scraped past Yokohama F-Marinos 1-0 away to leapfrog Kawasaki Frontale and go fourth on 16 points.
Kawasaki slumped to a humiliating 4-1 home defeat by Kashiwa Reysol, while the promoted Montedio Yamagata came back from three goals down to earn a 3-3 draw at Shimizu S-Pulse.
Kashima Antlers, who won the last of their seven championships in 2009, beat follow northerners Vegalta Sendal 2-1 away for their third win of the season. Nagoya Grampus beat Vissel Kobe 1-0 in western Japan.
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