Jubilo Iwata maintained their perfect record at the top of the J-League after a 3-1 home victory over Kyoto Purple Sanga on Sunday, opening a one-point gap on newly promoted Vegalta Sendai.
Vegalta Sendai celebrates after forward Yoshiteru Yamashita scored the winning goal in the 101st minute against Vissel Kobe.Yugoslav midfielder Aleksandar Zivkovic, Japan striker Naohiro Takahara and Toshiya Fujita were on target as Iwata earned a full 12 points after four matches into the season while leaving first-division returnees Kyoto at the bottom of the 18-team table.
Verdy loses again
A headed goal eight minutes into the second half by Kashiwa Reysol's Yoo Sang Chul handed Tokyo Verdy 1969 a 1-0 loss and its fourth straight defeat of the J. League season at Tokyo's National Stadium on Sunday night.
Steve Perryman, the Kashiwa manager, said he was "very satisfied" with the result after the game, particularly in light of the team's 5-0 loss in its previous match.
The first half quickly degenerated into a collection of midfield errors, and it took until the 41st minute for either team to have a shot on goal.
The goal early in the second half -- the result of a cross from the left by Harutaka Ono that Yoo stooped -- perked proceedings up and gave the drenched fans something to shout about.
