High-flying Urawa Reds continued their march toward consecutive J. League championship crowns with a hard-fought 1-0 win away to Yokohama F. Marinos on Saturday.
Yuichiro Nagai's 66th-minute strike did the damage as Urawa capped a fine week following their 2-1 win over holders Chonbuk Motors in the first leg of the Asian Champions League quarterfinals on Wednesday.
The Reds temporarily moved seven points clear at top of the table as second-placed Gamba Osaka are in action at Jubilo Iwata on Sunday.
Kashima Antlers reclaimed third spot and sit 10 points behind the Reds after Yuzo Tashiro's double lifted them to a come-from-behind 3-1 win over visiting Albirex Niigata.