Nagoya Grampus Eight narrowed the gap on leaders Kashima Antlers to two points after a 2-0 win away to Kashiwa Reysol in the J. League first division on Saturday.
Striker Naoshi Nakamura opened the scoring in the 36th minute, bundling home a cross after Keiji Yoshimura had dispossessed Ricardinho just outside the area.
The visitors spent much of the second half soaking up wave after wave of Kashiwa pressure but Brazilian Claiton sealed the win on a counterattack in second-half stoppage time to move Nagoya to 14 points from seven matches.
Sanfreece Hiroshima moved into third on 12 points after a 2-1 win over Kawasaki Frontale while Shimizu S-Pulse moved off the foot of the table by beating JEF United Chiba by the same scoreline to record their first league win of the season.
Elsewhere, Japan striker Masashi Oguro helped himself to a hat-trick as Gamba Osaka beat FC Tokyo 5-3 while two first-half goals from former Japan striker Akinori Nishizawa stretched Cerezo Osaka's unbeaten run to four matches with a 2-1 win at Urawa Reds.
Substitute Kohei Nishino gave Oita Trinita a 2-1 win at home to struggling Vissel Kobe, who slumped to the bottom of the table, while Brazilian strikers Washington and Edmilson had two goals apiece as Tokyo Verdy against Albirex Niigata finished 2-2.