Modest JEF United Ichihara beat 10-man Kashiwa Reysol 2-0 away in a highly charged Chiba derby to turn the first-stage title race on its head and Kashima Antlers swept aside Jubilo Iwata 5-2 as J. League first division action resumed on Saturday after a five-week break.
Japan Under-22 midfielder Yuki Abe set up Yuto Sato for the opener on 22 minutes and grabbed a superb second shortly before Kashiwa was reduced to 10 men as Ichihara leapfrogged Jubilo, which saw goalkeeper Arno Van Zwam sent off after just 12 minutes, to go to the top with four games of the stage remaining.
Victory moved Ichihara a step closer to its first-ever league title with 23 points from 11 games, one clear of Kashima while Jubilo dropped to third on 21.
At Kashiwa Stadium, Ichihara played the more enterprising soccer in an ill-tempered first half and took the lead when Sato stole in to lash home an Abe free-kick from the left.