YOKOHAMA — Kashima Antlers' stranglehold on the J. League title race slipped again after a 2-1 defeat by Yokohama F. Marinos on Saturday, but best-placed challengers Kawasaki Frontale failed to capitalize by losing to Urawa Reds later in the evening.
Daisuke Sakata gave Marinos an 11th-minute lead at Nissan Stadium before Kashima captain Mitsuo Ogasawara equalized almost immediately, but Kazuma Watanabe restored Yokohama's advantage three minutes later to leave Antlers sweating on the outcome of Frontale's match with Reds at Todoroki Stadium.
A win for Kawasaki would have slashed Antlers' lead at the top of the table down to four points, with a strong possibility of that becoming one when the two teams complete last weekend's rain-interrupted head-to-head clash on Oct. 7 with the score at 3-1 to Frontale and 15 minutes left to play.