Kashima Antlers remained in total control at the top of the J. League as goals from Masaki Fukai and Mitsuo Ogasawara gave them a 2-1 win over rival Jubilo Iwata on Sunday.
The result restored Kashima's five-point lead at the top of the table, while defending champion Yokohama F. Marinos dropped eight points off the pace after a shock 2-1 defeat at home to Omiya Ardija.
In the day's big game between two of the J. League's most successful clubs, Fukai gave the four-time champion a dream start when he lashed a fierce drive past Iwata goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi with less than two minutes on the clock.
Fukai then set up the second when Kawaguchi could only parry his fierce shot and Ogasawara was on hand to roll the simplest of finishes into an empty net in the 18th minute.
Yoshiaki Ota pulled one back for Jubilo but it was unable to find a way through and now lies in 15th place in the 18-team division.