J-League wrap: Gamba win, leaders lose

Gamba Osaka kept their slim hopes of winning the J-League crown alive with a 2-1 win over relegation-bound Shonan Bellmare on Tuesday.

And league leaders Nagoya Grampus fell 1-0 at home to Tokyo, reducing their lead to six points with two matches left.

Gamba had little trouble overcoming Shonan, who are at the foot of the table with 16 points and will be relegated to the second division.

It took less than a minute for Japan international midfielder Hideo Hashimoto to put Gamba ahead, much to the delight of Gamba fans at the Osaka Expo ’70 Stadium in Suita.

Former Vissel Kobe midfielder Kenji Baba levelled for Shonan on 27 minutes, but Gamba surged for a winner and eventually found one through Hayato Sasaki in the 75th minute.

Meanwhile, Nagoya were held to a clean sheet for just the third time this season, and the first time at home, in their shock loss to Tokyo.

Tokyo’s hopes of avoiding relegation were bolstered by the win, which came from a Masashi Oguro strike in the 27th minute, leaving them three points clear of the relegation zone with winnable matches against Montedio Yamagata and Kyoto Sanga remaining.

In other results, Ryoichi Maeda nabbed his 15th goal of the season as Jubilo Iwata shocked Kashima Antlers 2-1, while Shimizu S-Pulse held off Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2-1.

Cerezo Osaka kept pace with an AFC Champions League berth by defeating Kawasaki Frontale 2-1, while Brazilian striker Robson Ponte scored twice as Urawa Red Diamonds smashed Yokohama F Marinos 4-1.

Vissel Kobe temporarily staved off relegation with a late equaliser in their 2-2 draw at Omiya Ardija, and Atomu Tanaka struck in injury time as Albirex Niigata stole a 1-1 draw with Vegalta Sendai.