Sanfrecce Hiroshima maintained a wafer-thin advantage in the J. League title race despite losing 2-0 to Urawa Reds on Saturday, as Vegalta Sendai closed the gap at the top to one point with two games of the season left to play.

Sanfrecce went into the game at Saitama Stadium holding a two-point lead over second-place Vegalta and looking to take a big step toward their first-ever championship, but instead goals either side of halftime from Urawa's Tsukasa Umesaki and Keita Suzuki left them sweating on the outcome of Sendai's visit to Kashima Antlers.

Despite racing to a 3-1 halftime lead at Kashima Stadium, however, Vegalta were unable to hang on for the win that would have sent them top one point ahead of Sanfrecce, as Antlers came back to salvage a 3-3 draw.