Cerezo's loss means relegation

Brazilian striker Amaral scored a hat trick in FC Tokyo's 5-2 triumph over Cerezo Osaka on Saturday condemning the visitors to J. League Division Two soccer next season.

With three more rounds remaining in the second stage, Cerezo are now 11-points behind the 14th-place Yokohama F. Marinos, and so became the first team to be relegated. One other team will join Cerezo for the trip down to J2 at the end of the season.

Playing in the rain at Tokyo Stadium, the Osaka defenders couldn't cope with FC Tokyo's attacks down the right flank, spearheaded by midfielder Yukihiko Sato, and conceded two early goals through Fumitake Miura in the 10th minute and Amaral in the 20th minute.

Cerezo manager Joao Carlos sent South Korea midfielder Yoon Jong Hwan on in an attempt to balance his team and block the aggressive Sato. The move soon paid off as Yoon struck a minute after the break, to cut the deficit to 2-1. But three minutes later, Cerezo gave away an own goal when Miura's cross bounced off Cerezo midfielder Kazuaki Tasaka into the net.

Amaral then found the net in the 60th and 64th minutes to complete his hat trick before Cerezo forward Kenji Oshiba struck in the 87th minute for a consolation goal.

Carlos, who joined the Osaka team this summer said, "I couldn't change the team." The former Antlers and Grampus boss has recorded just two wins and eight losses since his arrival at Osaka.

Tasaka said, "It's a pity but this is not the end of my soccer life."

Antlers stay top

Japan defender Koji Nakata scored an extra-time winner as Kashima Antlers beat Yokohama F. Marinos 2-1 on Saturday to stay three points clear at the top of the J-League second stage.

Veteran striker Masashi Nakayama earned second-placed Jubilo Iwata two points when his "golden goal" took the first-stage winners past Avispa Fukuoka 3-2.

At International Stadium Yokohama, the home side took the lead seven minutes before the break when 18-year-old striker Daisuke Sakata fired an unstoppable drive past Kashima keeper Hitoshi Sogahata from the edge of the box.

The league leaders came back in the second half and Augusto volleyed home the equalizer from close range with just 12 minutes remaining.

Nakata ensured a deserved two points for Kashima 14 minutes into extra time when he finished off a neat move, leaving Yokohama in deep trouble in the J1 relegation dogfight.

In Fukuoka, Japan midfielder Toshihiro Hattori brought Iwata back into the game with 15 minutes left when he leveled the scores at 2-2 from the spot at Hakatanomori stadium after the home side had Shinichi Kawaguchi sent off.

Iwata, which was also reduced to 10 men following Hideto Suzuki's dismissal, grabbed two points when Nakayama headed in the winner at the far post from a Nobuo Kawaguchi cross.

With three games remaining, Kashima lead with 30 points but Jubilo remain ready to pounce in second place on 27.

Elsewhere, JEF United Ichihara moved up to third after a 2-1 victory at Shimizu S-Pulse, South Korean striker Choi Yong Soo grabbing his 19th goal of the season and Slovenian defender Zeljko Milinovic heading in a Yuki Abe free-kick.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima earned a welcome boost in their struggle against relegation after beating hosts Gamba Osaka 2-1 to lift them further away from the danger zone. Tokyo Verdy, another relegation candidate, held Vissel Kobe to a 2-2 draw away from home.

In the evening, Kashiwa Reysol edged Nagoya Grampus Eight 3-2 at home while Consadole Sapporo and Urawa Reds played to a 1-1 draw at Sapporo Dome.

Get tough bill

The Japanese government is getting tough on soccer hooligans.

The upper house of parliament passed a bill Friday enabling immigration authorities to bar hooligans from entering Japan for the 2002 World Cup.

The bill states that those who have been convicted or expelled from countries for disruptive behavior at soccer games can be refused entry to Japan.

It also says foreigners who engage in soccer violence after entering Japan can be expelled.