Veteran defender Yutaka Akita scored a second-half winner as 10-man Kashima Antlers defeated JEF United Ichihara 3-2 to move to the top of the J. League on Sunday.
Kashima had defender Naoki Soma sent off after 68 minutes as South Korean striker Choi Yong Soo drew Ichihara level from the penalty spot but Akita rose to head home 14 minutes from time to send his side top after a pulsating encounter at Tokyo's National Stadium.
Unbeaten Kashima ended Ichihara's flawless start to the second stage and moved on to 10 points from four matches, a point clear of the Chiba Prefecture club at the top of the table.