Nagoya Grampus held onto top spot in the J. League with a 1-1 draw against Urawa Reds on Sunday, while a 2-0 win over Shimizu S-Pulse provided Kashima Antlers with a perfect tonic for their Asian Champions League blues in midweek.
Goals from Takeshi Aoki and Marquinhos got Kashima's domestic campaign back up and running and kept it in the thick of an absorbing title race, while Grampus had Yuki Maki to thank for a fine equalizer at Mizuho Stadium.
With only four points separating the top six teams, Nagoya leads the standings with 49 points with seven games left, one ahead of Oita Trinita and three ahead of Kashima and Urawa, who both have a game in hand.