J.League wrap: Kashiwa, Marinos retain top-two spots

Kashiwa Reysol and Yokohama F Marinos continued their war for J.League supremacy on Saturday, with both sides posting narrow wins.

Marinos hold onto top spot on goal difference after a 63rd-minute strike from midfielder Shingo Hyodo was enough to hand them a 1-0 win over Vissel Kobe at Nissan Stadium.

But Reysol, last season’s J2 champions, kept the pressure on with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Kashima Antlers.

Hideaki Kitajima gave Reysol the lead after 33 minutes, but the Antlers were back on level terms 12 minutes after the break when striker Yuzo Tashiro found the net.

Brazilian striker Leandro Domingues wrapped up all three points for the hosts with 11 minutes to play to see Reysol and Marinos locked on 37 points each after 18 games.

In other results, Nagoya Grampus stayed in third place after a 3-2 win over Sanfrecce Hiroshima at Toyota Stadium.

Tadanari Lee gave Sanfrecce the lead after just seven minutes, but goals from Marcus Tanaka, Josh Kennedy and Takahiro Masukawa put Nagoya firmly in the ascendancy.

Toshihiro Aoyama pulled one back for the visitors with five minutes left to ensure some anxious moments late on, but Nagoya held on to claim all three points and remain just four points behind the top two.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Urawa Reds were 2-0 winners over Ventforet Kofu, while a brace from South Korean midfielder Bo-Kyung Kim powered Cerezo Osaka to a 4-0 win over Shimizu S-Pulse.

Albirex Niigata enjoyed a 1-0 win over Kawasaki Frontale, who managed to hold onto fourth place by goal difference when Gamba Osaka were held to a 2-2 draw at home against Jubilo Iwata.