Kashiwa Reysol came from behind to refuel their title ambitions with a feisty 2-1 win over defending J. League champions Nagoya Grampus on Saturday.
Kashiwa playmaker Leandro Domingues had to be stretchered off the pitch at Hitachi Stadium after a 13th-minute challenge from Marcus Tulio Tanaka, and with the Brazilian off the pitch receiving treatment, Keiji Tamada stepped up to put Grampus in front with a free kick from the edge of the box.
But Junya Tanaka leveled the score as Reysol came roaring back in the second half, and minutes after Grampus manager Dragan Stojkovic had been sent from the dugout for reacting angrily to the goal, substitute Masakatsu Sawa pounced on a loose ball to complete the turnaround and propel Kashiwa past Nagoya into third place in the table.