Kawasaki Frontale's hopes for a first J-League championship remained alive on Saturday with a 1-0 win at home over Gamba Osaka.

Trailing league leaders Kashima Antlers by seven points, a Frontale loss would have handed Antlers their second straight championship.

Elsinho's 82nd-minute goal broke the ice at rainy Todoroki Stadium, where Frontale dominated throughout. Akihiro Ienaga headed a Kengo Nakamura corner to Elsinho's feet and his half-volley skipped into the goal, providing the only blemish on an otherwise spectacular afternoon for keeper Masaaki Higashiguchi.

With Frontale's midfield and defense starving Gamba of the ball, the visitors' defense was under constant pressure, but Higashiguchi went beyond the call of duty to keep the hosts at bay.

Time and again he deflected shots with an outstretched hand or foot, and when he was out of position, Frontale fired over the bar or wide of the post.

"It was an incredibly difficult game," Frontale captain Yu Kobayashi said. "We just couldn't score goals. Although it was difficult, all that matters is winning.

"Our next game is against Urawa (on Nov. 29) and if we don't win there, this is all for nothing. So we are going to be at our best there."

Frontale wasted a golden opportunity in the 15th minute when Hiroyuki Abe's through pass found Nakamura unmarked in the penalty area, but his volley sailed over the bar.

The hosts nearly broke the ice in the 28th minute, when Tatsuki Nara headed in a Nakamura corner, only to force an acrobatic save from Higashiguchi. Two minutes later, an athletic sliding cross from Eduardo Neto found Kobayashi in front of goal, where he collided with a defender and fell in the penalty area but play continued.

The second half started much the same, with Frontale applying all the pressure and Abe just missing with a long-range effort four minutes after the break. A defensive slip up then left Kobayashi with the ball and sprinting toward the near post with Higashiguchi trying to cut him off and only blocking his shot with an outstretched foot.

As the game went on Frontale laid siege to the goal, but Higashiguchi held firm until Elsinho's effort snuck past.

A call for a handball in the Frontale penalty area was waved off in the final minute of play, handing the hosts the victory.

At the bottom of the table, Vegalta Sendai defeated 17th-placed Omiya Ardija at home, virtually assuring the Saitama club of relegation, while Patric's 77th-minute winner lifted Sanfrecce Hiroshima out of the drop zone with a 2-1 win at Vissel Kobe.

Ventforet Kofu, however, replaced Hiroshima in 16th place after a 1-0 defeat at relegated Albirex Niigata.

In other games, fourth-placed Kashiwa Reysol defeated Jubilo Iwata 1-0 at home, while Cerezo Osaka won 4-1 at Yokohama F Marinos. Third-placed Cerezo, on 60 points, lead Kashiwa (58) with two games remaining as they battle for the final Asian Champions League berth.

In Kyushu, Sagan Tosu defeated FC Tokyo 2-1 at home, while former England international Jay Bothroyd's first-round brace saw Consodole Sapporo win 2-0 at Shimizu S-Pulse.