Ten-man Urawa Reds pulled off a remarkable comeback to hold Kashima Antlers 2-2 away and blow the title race wide open as Gamba Osaka moved top of the J. League first-division with a 1-0 win away to Tokyo Verdy on Saturday.
Masahiro Koga (left) of Nagoya Grampus Eight is tackled by F. Marinos defender Yuji Nakazawa (third from left) during Saturday's J. League match at Nissan Stadium.
Goals from Mitsuo Ogasawara and Alex Mineiro put Kashima in control and the visitor suffered another blow when Marcus Tulio Tanaka was sent off just after the hour mark in a bad-tempered affair that saw referee Joji Kashihara dish out 12 yellow cards and one red.
But Tatsuya Tanaka pulled one back and recent signing Robson Ponte's goal sparked wild scenes of jubilation among the swarms of traveling Reds fans at Kashima Stadium to snatch a point three minutes from time.