A spectacular Andres Iniesta penalty goal and a late Asahi Masuyama header earned a point for Vissel Kobe in a 2-2 home draw with Gamba Osaka on Friday night.
Trailing by two, Iniesta was the picture of calm as he scored in the 79th minute off a blocked penalty shot, while Masuyama equalized five minutes later at Noevir Stadium.
Shu Kurata put the visitors in front in the eighth minute, scoring off a ball that midfielder Shinya Yajima launched from his own half and over Kobe's backline. Kurata controlled the ball with his first touch and side-footed it with his second, past Hiroki Iikura, when the Vissel 'keeper came out to challenge him.