Yoshito Okubo scored twice and Kawasaki Frontale kept alive their hopes of winning the second-stage title with a thrilling 5-3 win over defending champions Gamba Osaka in the J. League first division on Sunday.

Okubo gave Frontale an early lead and a peach from captain Kengo Nakamura made it 2-1 on the stroke of halftime after Patric had pulled one back for the visitors.

A fine solo effort from Yoshihiro Nakano made it 3-1 early in the second half, but former Kawasaki forward Patric struck again before substitute Shu Kurata grabbed the equalizer on 71 minutes.