Urawa Reds moved four points clear at the top of the J-League first division on Saturday thanks to a 3-2 win at home to promoted Consadole Sapporo and a couple of slip-ups by their chasing rivals.
Rafael Silva opened the scoring midway through the first half and Takahiro Sekine made it 2-1 after Shingo Hyodo had pulled one back for Sapporo with a smart finish at Saitama Stadium.
Shinzo Koroki scored what proved to be the winner from the penalty spot in the 74th minute with his seventh goal of the season. Akito Fukumori replied late on for the visitors to set up a tense finale.
Unbeaten in the league since losing away to Yokohama F Marinos on the opening day of the season, Reds improved to 19 points from eight matches.
Kashima Antlers (15 points) lost ground on Reds after the champions were thumped 3-0 at home to Jubilo Iwata, former Japan midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura stealing the show with a sensational first-half strike.
Vissel Kobe (15) could have stayed within a point of Urawa with a win in an evening kickoff but they also lost, going down 1-0 away to Sagan Tosu, South Korean striker Cho Dong Geon settling the match in the ninth minute.
Reds dominated from the outset and Sekine and Koroki both went close before Silva broke the deadlock on 20 minutes, the Brazilian slamming home from close range following a corner from Yosuke Kashiwagi.
Sapporo goalkeeper Gu Sung Yun did well to foil Silva in a one-on-one and the visitors leveled against the run of play in the 34th minute.
Former Yokohama F Marinos midfielder Hyodo burst through Reds' defense and took a headed pass from Daiki Suga on his chest before ramming past Shusaku Nishikawa.
Sapporo's joy, however, proved short-lived as Reds restored their lead five minutes before the break.
Yudai Tanaka could only half clear after Gu had parried Koroki's header and Sekine snapped up the loose ball and hit a rasping drive into the roof of the net for his first goal of the season.
"I had a few chances that I could not put away so I am glad I could score in the end," said Sekine.
Koroki hit the bar midway through the second period and Tomoaki Makino then had a header cleared off the line.
But Koroki finally got on the scoresheet in the 74th minute, dusting himself off to steer home the spot after he had been tripped up by Tomonobu Yokoyama.
Sapporo replied through Fukumori's superb free kick with three minutes left but Reds held on to take the points.
Reds face Western Sydney Wanderers here in the Asian Champions League on Wednesday before taking on local rivals Omiya Ardija in their next league match away on April 30.
"We want to make sure we win (on Wednesday) and make it into the ACL knockout stage. Hopefully we can keep on picking up three points."
In other games, Hiroto Hatao's equalizer earned a 1-1 draw for Ventforet Kofu at home to Cerezo Osaka, while Kosei Shibasaki's last-gasp goal saw Sanfrecce Hiroshima come from behind to draw 3-3 at home to Vegalta Sendai.
Two goals in quick succession from Cristiano and Hiroto Nakagara earning Kashiwa Reysol a 2-0 win at home to Yokohama F Marinos.
Yoshito Okubo wrapped up the scoring as FC Tokyo whipped Albirex Niigata 3-0 away for their third win in a row.
==Kyodo
