Yoichiro Kakitani grabbed a second-half double as Cerezo Osaka took a big step towards qualifying for the quarterfinals of the Nabisco Cup with a 3-2 win over Kawasaki Frontale on Wednesday night.
Victory moved Cerezo to the top of Group A on nine points, with idle Jubilo Iwata second on goal difference with two matches left to play in the first round. Kota Mizunuma struck an 80th-minute winner as Sagan Tosu beat Urawa Reds 2-1 to also improve to nine points in third place while Reds (6) dropped to fifth. Kawasaki, on four points with just one game left, were eliminated. J. League leaders Vegalta Sendai (6) beat last-placed Sanfrecce Hiroshima 3-1, Takayuki Nakahara bagging a brace for the visitors at Big Arch.
At Kincho Stadium, Cerezo were the more industrious of the two sides in the early exchanges and Branquinho hit the post with a rasping drive on the quarter-hour mark before Yusuke Maruhashi volleyed into the side netting.