Staff writer

AINO, Shizuoka Pref. -- Jubilo and Japan striker Masashi Nakayama struck once, controversially, and set up Toshiya Fujita's goal as Iwata downed archrivals Kashima Antlers 2-0 on Saturday at Shizuoka Ecopa Stadium.

The win helped the J. League first-stage champion move top of the Division One second-stage table on goal difference.

J-League 1st-division GPWDLGFGAPts. Iwata 8 7 0 1 14 4 19 Kashima 8 7 0 1 19 11 19 FC Tokyo 8 4 3 1 19 14 15 Shimizu 8 5 0 3 23 15 14 Ichihara 8 4 2 2 14 11 14 Nagoya 8 4 1 3 16 15 13 Kashiwa 8 3 3 2 18 11 12 Hiroshima 8 4 0 4 22 16 12 Yokohama 8 4 1 3 10 11 11 Sapporo 8 3 1 4 17 18 9 Fukuoka 8 3 1 4 13 16 9 Kobe 8 2 2 4 13 19 8 Osaka G 8 2 1 5 9 14 7 Tokyo V 8 2 1 5 9 15 7 Urawa 8 1 0 7 9 17 3 Osaka C 8 1 0 7 7 25 2

After a scoreless first-half the game started rolling with Nakayama's controversial goal in the 59th minute. Nakayama competed with Kashima goalkeeper Hitoshi Sogahata for a long kick from Dutch goalkeeper Arno van Zwam. Sogahata appeared to catch the ball but lost control of it as he landed. The veteran striker reacted quickly and slotted the ball into the empty goal. The Antlers players claimed a foul, saying that Nakayama had impeded the keeper, but Mauritian referee An Yan Lim Kee Chung allowed the goal.

Iwata's second came in the 79th minute. Nakayama drove down the right flank and sent a cross in for Fujita. The former Japan midfielder dashed into the open space between the Kashima defenders to strike a fine volley into the net. After the game, some 100 Kashima briefly protested the first-goal, before eventually leaving the stadium without causing any further trouble.

New stadium opens

Urawa Reds and Yokohama F Marinos christened Saitama Stadium 2002, which will host the semifinal at next year's World Cup, and a league-record 60,553 turned up to see Yokohama run out a 2-0 winner thanks to goals from Brazilian duo Brito and Dutra. It was Urawa's fifth straight loss and leaves Pita's men languishing one place above bottom side Cerezo Osaka, who picked up its first points of the second stage as Yoon Jong Hwan scored a golden goal in a 2-1 win at home to crosstown rival Gamba Osaka. Also at the foot of the division, Tokyo Verdy continue to stare relegation in the face after going down 1-0 at home to Consadole Sapporo, who scored after seven minutes through Adalto.

Elsewhere, Baron helped himself to a hat trick as Shimizu S-Pulse stormed to an emphatic 6-3 win at Vissel Kobe while Tokyo FC moved on to 15 points to stay in touch with the leaders after earning a 1-1 draw at Nagoya Grampus Eight.

South Korean duo Yoo Sang Chul and Hwang Sun Hong both got their names on the scoresheet as Kashiwa Reysol won 4-2 away to Sanfrecce Hiroshima while JEF United Ichihara brushed aside Avispa Fukuoka 3-0.