Kashima Antlers preserved their one-point lead at the top of the J. League second-stage standings after a 1-1 draw away at defending champion Jubilo Iwata on Saturday.
Japan midfielder Mitsuo Ogasawara fired Kashima in front after 17 minutes before league-leading scorer Rodrigo Gral leveled when he grabbed his 16th goal from a penalty shortly before halftime in a scrappy game at a rain-soaked Yamaha Stadium.
Kashima held onto top spot with 12 points from six games ahead of JEF United Ichihara, Tokyo Verdy and first-stage winners Yokohama F. Marinos.
Iwata should have taken the lead after 13 minutes only for Aleksander Zivkovic to screw his shot horribly wide after being put clean through with a clever pass from Gral.