Oita Trinita frustrated Urawa Reds with a stifling defensive performance to earn a 0-0 draw and stay firmly in the J. League title hunt on Saturday.
The unfashionable Kyushu club, going into the match in unfamiliar territory in fourth place — just one point behind league-leading Nagoya Grampus — played for the draw from the first whistle and got it with a well-organized, gritty display at Saitama Stadium.
Oita even came closest to winning the match, hitting the post twice as Reds struggled to find the imagination to break the visitors down in front of an impatient crowd.