Brazilian forward Douglas equalized in the 89th minute before Kenta Nishizawa struck in injury time as Shimizu S-Pulse came from behind for a stunning 3-2 win over 10-man Yokohama F Marinos on Saturday.
Marinos' Brazilian striker Edigar Junio found the net for a third straight J-League first-division game, while Teruhito Nakagawa also scored for the visitors, who will feel they let three points slip away at a rain-soaked IAI Stadium.
(Kenta Nishizawa)
Ange Postecoglou's side looked to have secured the win when Nakagawa gave them a 2-1 lead in the 81st minute, but the dismissal of Brazilian attacker Marcos Junior for a second yellow card a minute later set the stage for a dramatic finish.
Shimizu manager Yoshiyuki Shinoda said the win over a Marinos side looking to move back into the top three was a shot in the arm for S-Pulse, who started the day last in the standings as one of five sides on 13 points.
"I think winning such an exciting game like this, and getting the three points in front of our home fans, should really bring us together," Shinoda said.
"The other teams at the bottom aren't our concern. We can only look at each game in front of us, make our preparations, and focus on our own play."
The visitors dominated possession and created most of the chances in a physical first-half that saw referee Futashi Nakamura issue five yellow cards.
Marinos got the breakthrough in the 32nd minute. Following a through-ball from Takuya Kida, Takuya Wada appeared to lose control with a heavy touch, but the ball fell into the path of Junio, who fired home from the edge of the area.
The home side started the second half in more determined fashion and equalized in the 59th minute when Ko Matsubara headed home with an assist from Douglas. The big Brazilian was first to a long corner at the left of the area, sending a header back toward Matsubara at the right post.
The visitors took a 2-1 lead nine minutes from time after attacker Junior sent a superb long ball over the top to Nakagawa, who beat S-Pulse keeper Yohei Nishibe from inside the area.
But the drama ratcheted up following the goal when Junior was given his marching orders. With forward Koya Kitagawa providing the cross, Douglas stroked home the equalizer from directly in front of goal.
In a frenzied finish to the match, Elsinho won possession in midfield and sent a long diagonal through-ball to second-half substitute Nishizawa, who slotted the winner past Marinos keeper Park Il Gyu.
In other first-division matches, Shinzo Koroki struck the winner in injury time as Urawa Reds came from behind to beat struggling Sagan Tosu 2-1 at Saitama Stadium.
At Ajinomoto Stadium, Andres Iniesta scored early in the second half to give Vissel Kobe a much-needed win against J1 leaders FC Tokyo.
(Andres Iniesta)
Matsumoto Yamaga went down 1-0 to visiting Vegalta Sendai, with Ryohei Michibuchi netting the winner in the first half.
Oita Trinita and Nagoya Grampus drew 1-1 at Showa Denko Dome, while Jubilo Iwata and Gamba Osaka finished in a scoreless stalemate at Yamaha Stadium.
