CHIBA — Josh Kennedy and Keiji Tamada combined to halt Nagoya Grampus' slide with a 2-0 win over JEF United Chiba, but there was no such joy at the top of the J. League table as all four leading teams lost on Wednesday night.
Grampus went into the match at Fukuda Denshi Arena in 13th place after consecutive defeats to Oita Trinita and Kawasaki Frontale, just weeks after a 3-0 win over Urawa Reds looked to have set Dragan Stojkovic's inconsistent side moving in the right direction.
But goals in each half from Australian striker Kennedy — his fourth in five games — and Tamada put the brakes on Nagoya's latest slump, on a night when it was left to the title contenders to leave their fans frustrated.