Kashima Antlers wasted a glorious chance to make up ground in the J. League title race after twice throwing away a lead before conceding in the 90th minute to lose 3-2 to Kashiwa Reysol on Saturday.
Antlers had slipped seven points behind league-leaders Urawa Reds going into the game at Kashima Stadium, but goals from Daigo Nishi and substitute Atsutaka Nakamura either side of Leandro's first-half injury-time equalizer put them in the driving seat.
Dudu then scored in the 69th minute to wipe out Kashima's advantage for a second time before a red card for defender Daisuke Suzuki reduced Reysol to 10 men, before Tetsuro Ota struck at the death to leave empty-handed Antlers ruing the missed opportunity as Urawa went down 4-2 to Vegalta Sendai.