Kawasaki Frontale set up Kashiwa Reysol's fall from the top of the J. League first division with a 3-2 win against Nelsinho's side at home on Saturday evening.
The J1 leaders did well to catch up from two down at halftime with a Kosuke Kikuchi own goal and Leandro Domingues' sixth strike of the year, but gave away a late penalty as well as the three points to Naoki Soma's charges.
Kashiwa stood on 34 points at the halfway point of the season, just one point ahead of second-place Yokohama F. Marinos, who are at Omiya Ardija on Sunday.