Surprise package Cerezo Osaka defeated Kawasaki Frontale 2-0 to move within one point of J. League leader and local rival Gamba Osaka on Sunday as Vissel Kobe was relegated to the second division.
Robson Ponte (left) of Urawa Reds fires in a shot in front of Keiji Yamada (center) and Masayuki Yanagisawa of Tokyo Verdy at Saitama Stadium 2002.
Second-half goals from Tatsuya Furuhashi and Hiroaki Morishima lifted perennial struggler Cerezo onto 56 points, one behind Gamba, which was beaten 2-1 on the road by Nagoya Grampus Eight. Claiton struck the winner for Nagoya in the 67th minute.
Kashima Antlers and Urawa Reds also stayed in the thick of the title race with three games remaining, but Kobe became the first relegation casualty after a 1-0 home defeat by Omiya Ardija.