Kashima Antlers saw their stranglehold on the J. League title race loosen after a 3-2 defeat to Yokohama F. Marinos on Saturday night.
Antlers went into the match at Nissan Stadium with their five-point lead at the top of the table having been cut to two after second-place Kawasaki Frontale beat Sanfrecce Hiroshima 3-0 earlier in the day, and two early goals from Marinos put the defending champions into an early hole.
A goal on the stroke of halftime from Shuto Yamamoto dragged Kashima back in contention, and normal service looked to have been resumed when Naomichi Ueda headed in an equalizer in the 66th minute.