Nagoya Grampus are back in their familiar place at the top of the J. League table, the defending champions overtaking Kashiwa Reysol with two games left in the season after a gutsy 2-1 victory over Yokohama F Marinos on Saturday.
Nagoya won with just seven minutes remaining through Josh Kennedy's J1-leading 18th goal of the year as Dragan Stojkovic's men, on 65 points, moved into first on goal difference ahead of idle Kashiwa who are away to Shimizu S-Pulse on Sunday.
Yoshizumi Ogawa, who created Kennedy's close-range header, opened the scoring early before Shunsuke Nakamura leveled for Marinos with a heads-up free kick midway through the second half.