Brazilian striker Washington scored twice in the space of 10 first-half minutes as first-place Urawa Reds consigned JEF United Chiba's six-match winning streak to the dustbin with a 4-2 victory at Fukuda Denshi Arena on Saturday.

News photoReds defender Yuki Abe fires a header against JEF United Chiba in first-half action at Fukuda Denshi Arena on Saturday. Urawa won 4-2. KYODO PHOTO

Urawa's win temporarily lifted it nine points clear of Gamba Osaka on a day when the first-division whipping boys, Yokohama FC, were finally put out of their misery and condemned to the drop after just one season in the top flight.

Washington set Urawa on its way by sweeping home Makoto Hasebe's cross in the 29th minute and was left with a bloody nose after bravely heading home his 15th of the season to double the visitors' lead six minutes before halftime.