Takuya Nozawa struck twice as leaders Kashima Antlers returned to winning ways with a comfortable 2-0 victory away to Omiya Ardija in the J. League first division Saturday.
Kashima Antlers Midfielder Takuya Nozawa (right) beats Omiya Ardija defender Takuro Nishimura to score the first of his two goals in the 26th minute Saturday at Saitama Stadium 2002. Antlers won 2-0.
Two clinical finishes from Nozawa, with Masashi Motoyama the provider on both occasions, saw Kashima collect its first win in three matches and maintain a four-point lead over Gamba Osaka, which came from behind to thrash local rival Cerezo Osaka 4-1.
At a sparsely populated Saitama Stadium 2002, neither team was able to get a grip on a drab first half but Nozawa opened the scoring with a well-taken finish in the 27th minute.