Defending J. League champions Yokohama F. Marinos zeroed in on the first-stage title with a 2-1 win over 10-man Kashiwa Reysol on Saturday after Jubilo Iwata was stunned 1-0 away to archrivals Kashima Antlers.
Kashima Antlers' Daiki Iwamasa (left) reacts after scoring the
decisive goal in the 89th minute against Jubilo Iwata at Kashima Stadium. Antlers won 1-0.
Iwata's hopes of claiming their first title since winning both stages in 2002 were dealt a hammer blow after Daiki Iwamasa settled an uneventful affair by heading home a Mitsuo Ogasawara corner in the closing stages to ensure that the chase for first-stage honors will go down to the wire.
Yokohama took full advantage of Iwata's slip-up in the evening to move two points clear at the top of the table with one game remaining thanks to goals from Hayuma Tanaka and South Korean star striker Ahn Jung Hwan.