If Nagoya Grampus' and Kashima Antlers' failure to win their opening fixtures constituted good news for the rest of the J. League, the manner in which both teams eventually salvaged a point did not.
Losing at home to less-fancied sides on the first day of action, both Kashima and defending champion Nagoya came roaring back to equalize at the death. Josh Kennedy held his nerve to put away a 95th-minute penalty in Grampus' 1-1 draw with Yokohama F. Marinos on Saturday, while a day later an injury time own goal got Antlers out of jail with a 3-3 draw against Omiya Ardija.
Neither team will be satisfied at taking a solitary point when three were available, but in terms of sheer determination it sent a chilling reminder to those looking for chinks in the present and previous champions' psychological armor.