Vegalta moves a point clear

A draw with Yokohama F Marinos, courtesy of Wilson's late penalty, was enough to nudge it in front as Sanfrecce Hiroshima was beaten 2-1 by Shimizu S-Pulse.

Vegalta had led through Toshihiko Uchiyama but Shunsuke Nakamura and Takashi Kanai turned the game around and left the host needing Brazilian Wilson to keep his nerve.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima led through Hisato Sato's second-minute goal but it was pegged back in the last 10 minutes by Shimizu S-Pulse, Toshiyuki Takagi equalising before Genki Omae grabbed a shock winner.

There were also draws for third-placed Urawa Red Diamonds, 2-2 at home to FC Tokyo, and fourth-placed Kashiwa Reysol at Albirex Niigata.

Urawa led 2-0 at half-time through Tomoya Ugajin and Marcio Richardes but Kenta Mukuhara and Aria Jasuru Hasegawa hit back for the visitor.

Kashiwa Reysol also squandered a lead, Jorge Wagner scoring in the first minute before Kisho Yano netted a 63rd-minute equaliser for Albirex Niigata.

At the other end of the table, Consadole Sapporo is 10 points adrift at the bottom after a 4-0 defeat to Cerezo Osaka rounded off by Everton Kempes' double.

That did Cerezo's neighbour Gamba Osaka a favour, and it opened up the double-figure gap with a 3-0 victory over Omiya Ardija. Leandro scored twice in a minute, the first a penalty, before Shu Karata rounded off the win.

Marcus Tanaka scored four goals as Nagoya Grampus hammered Vissel Kobe 5-1. Yoshizumi Ogawa scored the host's other goal, while his namesake Keijiro Ogawa netted in injury-time for the beaten visitor.

Elsewhere, Jubilo Iwata and Kawasaki Frontale drew 2-2 while Sagan Tosu beat Kashima Antlers 2-0.