Alessandro Santos capped a memorable week with another double as Urawa Reds thrashed 10-man FC Tokyo 4-0 Saturday to go atop the J. League first division heading into the second half of the season.
Santos, two-goal hero in Japan's 2-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago in midweek, beat Yoichi Doi with a well-taken right-footed shot and added a rare header before Tatsuya Tanaka sealed victory in front of over 50,000 at Saitama Stadium 2002.
Victory put Urawa on 36 points from 17 games with Guido Buchwald's side ahead of Gamba Osaka on goal difference.
Sidiclei completed a 4-1 win for defending champions Gamba at lowly Kyoto Purple Sanga but Kawasaki Frontale, leaders at the start of the day, dropped to third after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Yokohama F Marinos in a local derby at Todoroki Stadium.