J. League leaders Kashima Antlers crashed to their first defeat in six league matches on Saturday as the reigning champions went down 1-0 away to Sagan Tosu.
Kashima came into the match on a five-game winning streak but was second best throughout most of the contest and was sunk by Akito Fukuta's 80th-minute header at Best Amenity Stadium.
"Tosu put us on the back foot with aggressive soccer from the front and it is a disappointing result," said Kashima manager Go Oiwa. "We will have to prepare as best we can to try and bounce back from this in our next game."