Shu Kurata scored twice as Gamba Osaka kept alive their hopes of repeating last year's domestic treble success with a crucial 3-1 win away at Vegalta Sendai on Sunday.
Patric opened the scoring midway through the first half at Yurtec Stadium and Kurata scored with two well-taken finishes to put Gamba in control after Roman Lopes had headed Sendai level.
The result lifts Gamba (60 points) above FC Tokyo (59) into third place in the overall standings with two games left, keeping them in contention for a place in the postseason championship.