J-League champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima moved back into first place on goal difference ahead of Yokohama F Marinos with a narrow 1-0 victory over Vegalta Sendai on Saturday.
In the day's only J1 match and in what was a meeting of last season's top two teams, Naoki Ishihara struck the lone goal in the dying minutes to hand an ever-crucial win to Hajime Moriyasu's men, who improved to 56 points with four games left in the campaign.
Hiroshima's view from the top, though, may last only overnight with Marinos playing away to relegated Oita Trinita on Sunday, and Urawa Reds, two points off the pace, hosting Kashiwa Reysol in a preview of the Nov. 2 Nabisco Cup final.