Urawa Reds got their title challenge back on track after a bruising 2-0 win at home to local rival Omiya Ardija put them back on top of the J. League first division on Saturday.
Brazilian forward Washington struck in the first half, and substitute Yuichiro Nagai added a late second in an ugly affair at rain-swept Saitama Stadium 2002, which saw Urawa finish with 10 men after the late sending-off of midfielder Keita Suzuki.
Urawa climbed above Kawasaki Frontale, which was held to a 2-2 draw at home to Shimizu S-Pulse, and idle Gamba Osaka, which visits Albirex Niigata on Sunday.
Dislodged at the top of the table after its first defeat of the season at S-Pulse last weekend, Urawa lacked a creative spark in the absence of suspended Robson Ponte and only managed one shot on goal in the first half an hour, Hiroki Aratani comfortably gathering a tame shot from Makoto Hasebe after 13 minutes.