Gamba Osaka came from two goals down to hold JEF United Ichihara to a 2-2 draw in the J. League first division Sunday, a result that all but ended both teams chances of winning the second-stage title.
Naohiro Ishikawa of FC Tokyo takes a fall after competing for the ball with Sanfrecce's Beto on Sunday at Hiroshima Big Arch Stadium. The teams drew 1-1.
The draw left both second-placed Gamba and third-placed Ichihara on 21 points with four matches left to play, seven adrift of table-topping Urawa Reds, who took another huge step toward their first title by beating Cerezo Osaka 2-0 Saturday.
In the day's other fixture, Sanfrecce Hiroshima against FC Tokyo finished 1-1.
The winner of the second stage will meet first-stage winner Yokohama F. Marinos in the two-leg championship final in December.
