SAITAMA — Kashima Antlers and Gamba Osaka ramped up the pressure on Kawasaki Frontale in the J. League title race with wins on Saturday, while Urawa Reds salvaged some pride from a difficult season with a last-gasp 3-2 victory over Jubilo Iwata.
With Frontale not in action until Sunday's away trip to Oita Trinita, Antlers beat Kyoto Sanga 1-0 to move into first place for at least a day, with Takuya Nozawa's 37th-minute goal giving the defending champions a two-point lead at the top.
Third-place Gamba moved one point behind Frontale with a 2-0 win over Shimizu S-Pulse, but the day's drama unfolded at Saitama Stadium, where Edmilson completed his hat trick with the last kick of the game to salvage an emotional victory for Urawa.