Nagoya Grampus edged Albirex Niigata 1-0 in the J. League first division on Saturday, moving to within two points of leader Vissel Kobe ahead of its weekend fixture.
Playing a "home" game at Tokyo's National Stadium, Nagoya scored in the 14th minute through left wingback Ryoya Morishita as Grampus legend and current Serbia manager Dragan Stojkovic, who coached the club to its only J1 title in 2010, watched from among the crowd of 57,058.
Grampus went ahead after Ryuji Izumi made a marauding run into the box and sent a cross from the right that took a slight deflection before being steered home by Morishita.