Kawasaki Frontale kept alive their hopes of a first J-League championship title with a 3-0 win away to struggling Sanfrecce Hiroshima on Saturday.

Two goals late in the first half from Shogo Taniguchi and Koji Miyoshi put Kawasaki in control at a rain-lashed Edion Stadium, and Yu Kobayashi bagged his 18th league goal of the season to wrap up the win in the late stages.

Kawasaki's win moved them within two points of leaders Kashima Antlers after the reigning champions were beaten 3-2 away to Yokohama F Marinos. Marinos squandered a two-goal lead but won it in the 74th minute thanks to an own goal from Kashima defender Gen Shoji.

"We didn't play well in the first half and could not play at our own pace so there are still things we need to work on," said Kobayashi, whose team are unbeaten in their last 11 league outings.

"(But) the team is full of players that play with pride and that is leading us to good results," he said.

Both sides had chances in an entertaining opening, with Kobayashi's point-blank header bringing a fine save out of Hiroshima goalkeeper Hirotsugu Nakabayashi on 13 minutes.

Kawasaki keeper Jung Sung Ryong somehow managed to deflect Yusuke Minagawa's shot onto the crossbar moments later, before the visitors took the lead thanks to Nakabayashi's blunder five minutes before halftime.

Nakabayashi caught and then dropped Kengo Nakamura's cross and Eduardo got a touch on the loose ball before Taniguchi prodded it over the line.

Kawasaki moved firmly into the driver's seat in the first minute of stoppage time, Miyoshi taking Nakamura's pass and making space for himself to lash home from the edge of the box.

Minagawa had a golden chance to pull one back for Hiroshima in the 56th minute but contrived to shoot into the side netting with the goal at his mercy.

And Kobayashi finished the job for Kawasaki in the 85th with his fourth goal in three league games, controlling substitute keeper Shota Arai's drop kick on his chest and holding off Hiroki Mizumoto to smash past Nakabayashi at the near post.

"We weren't effective today and we were playing against a good side that were effective," said Hiroshima coach Jan Jonsson. "I am satisfied with the way we played and the number of chances we created but it is not even when the score is 3-0 so of course that is disappointing."

Hiroshima remain third from bottom and trail 15th-placed Ventforet Kofu by one point. Japan striker Kenyu Sugimoto scored both goals as Cerezo Osaka beat Kofu 2-0 at home.

Brazilian midfielder Mateus scored a 93rd-minute equalizer to rescue a point for second-from-bottom Omiya Ardija in a 1-1 draw at home to Kashiwa Reysol, while all-but-relegated Albirex Niigata drew 2-2 away to Jubilo Iwata, Adailton equalizing for Iwata in the 94th.

German former World Cup winner Lukas Podolski was on target, but Vissel Kobe let their lead slip and were beaten 2-1 at home to Sagan Tosu, while Vegalta Sendai drew 0-0 at home to Shimizu S-Pulse. A double from Jay Bothroyd earned Consdaole Sapporo a 2-1 win at FC Tokyo.