First-half goals from Kim Min-woo and Kei Ikeda ensured surprise leaders Sagan Tosu retained top spot in the J. League with a 2-1 win at Yokohama F. Marinos on Saturday.
Kim and Ikeda gave Tosu a two-goal cushion after 16 minutes and Yoon Jong-hwan's team held on to take maximum points in a tense finish to the game, after Shunsuke Nakamura pulled one back with a blockbuster for Marinos in the 90th minute.
After the final round of games before Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni names his squad on Monday for the World Cup finals in Brazil, Tosu leads the table with 27 points from 13 games, one point ahead of Urawa Reds, who claimed local bragging rights with a 2-0 win at Omiya Ardija.