Yokohama holds leader Sanfrecce

That result allowed Vegalta Sendai to close in on the leader by beating Gamba Osaka 2-1.

Yong Gi-Ryang fired the home side in front after 76 minutes with Takayuki Nakahara adding another six minutes later.

Paulinho pulled one back in the final minute for Gamba but there was no time to add to its tally.

Urawa Red Diamonds slipped six points off the lead with a 2-1 defeat at home to Consadole Sapporo.

Hiroyuki Furuta's double after 50 and 74 minutes did the damage for Urawa, which replied four minutes from time through Tsukasa Umesaki.

A 21st-minute goal from Taisuke Muramatsu earned Shimizu S-Pulse a 1-0 win at Jubilo Iwata - a result which lifts it above its opponent into fourth spot.

Sergio Dutra hit a hat-trick as Kashima Antlers hammered FC Tokyo 5-1.

Gaku Shibasaki and Yasushi Endoh were also on target for the host with Tokyo's late consolation coming from Hideto Takahashi.

A late penalty from Yoichiro Kakitani gave Cerezo Osaka a 3-2 victory over Sagan Tosu.

Sagan twice took the lead through Min-Woo Kim and Yohei Toyoda but was pegged by Kakitani and an own goal from Kun-Hoan Kim.

Kakitani then grabbed his second four minutes from time to seal an 11th win of the season for Cerezo.

George Wagner scored the only goal as Kashiwa Reysol edged out Kawasaki Frontale 1-0.

The matches between Albirex Niigata and Vissel Kobe, and Nagoya Grampus and Omiya Ardija finished goalless.