Nagoya Grampus moved five points clear of Cerezo Osaka in the J. League first division title race with a 3-1 victory over Gamba Osaka on Sunday night.
A gorgeous drive by Naoshi Nakamura from 30 meters out pushed Grampus in front in the sixth minute at Mizuho Stadium. Hideo Hashimoto equalized 11 minutes later, the Gamba midfielder scoring in his sixth straight game.
But Hashimoto's goal — his seventh of the season — went to waste as Danilson Cordoba made it 2-1 for Grampus with a header from a penalty-box scramble.