First-half goals from Naoki Ishikawa and Jay Bothroyd helped Consadole Sapporo run away with a 3-1 victory over Sagan Tosu in the J-League first division on Saturday.
Mu Kanazaki pulled a goal back for the visitors after the break, but a late strike from Musashi Suzuki put the result beyond doubt.
A day after marquee recruit Fernando Torres announced his impending retirement, last-place Sagan sought to avoid a third straight J1 defeat at a rain-soaked Atsubetsu Stadium.
But their clean sheet lasted until just the 19th minute, when Ishikawa scored from a set piece. The wingback struck with his left foot near the far post after Lucas Fernandes floated a corner kick over the six-yard box.
Fernandes set up Consadole's second with another corner 12 minutes later, this time finding Bothroyd for a header from directly in front.
Kanazaki gave the visitors hope in the 70th minute, finishing an attacking movement from the right with a shot from the middle of the area.
But Sagan saw their chance of a point snuffed out with six minutes remaining following an outstanding counterattacking goal from Consadole.
Following a clever square pass on the break from Thai playmaker Chanathip Songkrasin, two-time Japan international Suzuki deftly switched feet before curling a shot past Sagan keeper Yohei Takaoka from the top right of the area.
Former Atletico Madrid, Liverpool and Chelsea star Torres was on Sagan's bench for the loss.
The 35-year-old Spaniard, who joined the Kyushu-based club last summer, announced on social media Friday that he is calling it quits on an 18-year career.
On a weekend without the J1's four Asian Champions League contestants, Yokohama F Marinos moved past idle Kashima Antlers and Kawasaki Frontale thanks to Edigar Junio's 80th-minute goal in a 1-0 home win over Matsumoto Yamaga.
Marinos are on 30 points, three back of leading FC Tokyo, who are away to Vegalta Sendai on Sunday. Frontale and Antlers, both with a game in hand and a better goal differential than Marinos, are on 28 and 27 points, respectively.
Consadole are fifth on 27 points, while promoted Oita Trinita are a point further back after a 2-2 draw at Vissel Kobe due to an 89th-minute Seigo Kobayashi equalizer.
Two games were decided in the final minutes. Ryotaro Meshino's 91st-minute goal lifted Gamba Osaka to a 1-0 home win over Shonan Bellmare, while Kenta Nishizawa's 95th-minute goal took the wind out of Nagoya Grampus in a 2-1 away win four minutes after the hosts had equalized.
At the bottom of the table, Jubilo Iwata lost 2-0 at Cerezo Osaka to sit just one point ahead of last-place Sagan.
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