SAITAMA — Shimizu S-Pulse all but killed off Urawa Reds' J. League title hopes with a 2-1 win on Sunday, on a day when Kashima Antlers, Nagoya Grampus and Kawasaki Frontale all surged away from the chasing pack.

Despite starting the day just one point off the top, Urawa lacked any kind of urgency as Takuma Edamura gave S-Pulse a 22nd-minute opener at Saitama Stadium.

A brief spurt midway through the second half allowed Reds to draw level through Marcus Tulio Tanaka, but Takuro Yajima scored a well-deserved winner with less than 10 minutes to play to leave Urawa's championship hopes drowning in the wake of the other contenders' success.