Yu Kobayashi scored a late double as 10-man Kawasaki Frontale kept their J. League title hopes alive with a stunning 3-2 win over Vegalta Sendai on Saturday.
Frontale went into the game at Todoroki Stadium trailing league leaders Kashima Antlers by five points with six matches to play, and looked to be dead and buried when Akihiro Ienaga was sent off late in the first half and goals from Gakuto Notsuda and Naoki Ishihara put Vegalta two goals ahead after an hour's play.
But Elsinho started Frontale's comeback in the 82nd minute before Kobayashi scored an equalizer two minutes later, and the striker sealed an incredible turnaround when he notched the winner three minutes from time to keep Kawasaki in contention for a first-ever title.