Japanese table-toppers Urawa Reds frittered away more points as they drew 1-1 at Kashima Antlers on Sunday, allowing Gamba Osaka to close to within three points in a cliff-hanging title race.

Gamba's 2-1 win at home to FC Tokyo increased the pressure on Urawa, Japan's best-supported side fluffing a penalty and grateful for substitute Tadanari Lee's close-range strike four minutes after coming off the bench.

With four games left this season, Gamba's visit to Urawa for a crunch match on November 22 is looking increasingly like it could the title decider with the top two sides both showing signs of fragility in the run-in.

The Reds have 58 points after 30 games, with Gamba on 55 and Kashima on 51, ahead of Kawasaki Frontale on goal difference.

Reds manager Mihailo Petrovic extravagantly described Urawa's meeting with seven-times J-League champions Kashima as "Japan's Clasico", despite all the evidence to the contrary, Lee's goal clinching a point for his team in an error-strewn game.

"I think the Gamba match will decide the outcome (of the title race)," the Serbian told reporters. "But obviously we need to take maximum points before that to make it count. We have no fear, even if our lead has been cut."

Petrovic had little to say about Marcio Richardes fluffing an early penalty, a miss which came back to haunt the Reds when Brazilian midfielder Caio swept home a shot from the edge of the box six minutes before halftime.

Only Lee's intervention spared the Reds serious soul-searching after being held to a goalless home draw by lowly Ventforet Kofu in midweek.

Gamba bounced back after seeing their seven-game winning streak as goals from Kotaro Omori and captain Yasuhito Endo sealed the points at Expo stadium.

At the foot of the table, Shimizu S-Pulse slipped back into the relegation zone after suffering a 3-1 home defeat by champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima. They sit on 31 points, one more than Cerezo Osaka, who drew 0-0 at Yokohama F-Marinos.

Tokushima Vortis, already relegated after just one season in the top flight, were beaten 2-0 at home by Nagoya Grampus, leaving them marooned on just 13 points from 30 games.