The J. League's return to a two-stage system gives teams who started slowly another bite at the championship cherry, but Sanfrecce Hiroshima have bigger ambitions than just the second-stage title.

Sanfrecce came from behind to end overall league leaders Urawa Reds' unbeaten start to the season with a 2-1 win on Sunday night, preventing the Saitama side from opening up an eight-point lead in the overall table.

Sanfrecce now trail Urawa by only two points in the overall standings and lead Vissel Kobe by two points in the second-stage table after three games. Given that the team with the most points over the whole season goes straight to the championship-deciding game, while winning a stage merely guarantees a place in the playoffs, Sanfrecce's determination to rein in the runaway leaders was understandable.