Sagan Tosu hit an 83rd-minute equalizer to claim a 1-1 draw with Omiya Ardija and cut the J.League leader's cushion at the top to three points as play resumed from a six-week international break on Saturday.

Surprise package Omiya went into the game at Nack5 Stadium with a five-point lead over Urawa Reds and Yokohama F. Marinos, and a 17th-minute opener from Takuya Aoki looked like preserving it until Kei Ikeda popped up with seven minutes left to claim a share of the spoils for Tosu.

Reds beat Ventforet Kofu 1-0 to make up ground on their first-place local rival while Marinos drew 1-1 with last-place Oita Trinita, and with three more games to play over the coming 11 days, Omiya manager Zdenko Verdenik is demanding a quick improvement.