Zlatan Ljubijankic scored with six minutes remaining to keep Urawa Reds on top of the J. League with a 1-0 win over closest rival Gamba Osaka on Saturday.
Urawa went into the game one point ahead of Gamba, who reeled in Reds to win last year's title, but both sides struggled to find a way through in front of 53,148 at Saitama Stadium.
Slovenian striker Ljubijankic eventually broke the deadlock as time ticked away, however, converting a cross from close range to land a heavy blow for Urawa with more than half of the season's first stage now completed.