The Japanese title race took another dramatic twist on Saturday as Urawa Reds crashed 2-0 at home to nearest rivals Gamba Osaka when victory would have sealed the championship.

A bumper crowd of 56,000 expecting a second J-League crown and a tickertape celebration instead booed their players off the pitch after late goals from substitutes Akihiro Sato and Shu Kurata saw the visitors close the gap at the top of the table to two points with two games left.

"It was a game of patience," Gamba manager Kenta Hasegawa told reporters, adding that winning the J-League Cup earlier this month had given his side a shot in the arm.

"The cup run gave us a lot of confidence. It took some of the pressure of us and I think the Reds felt under real pressure being at home."

Hasegawa, whose team could still with a domestic treble with the Emperor's Cup semi-finals coming up next week, added: "Obviously we need to remember that the title is not in our hands. They have more points in the bag, but hopefully we can turn it around from here."

Urawa, Japan's best-supported club, have 61 point from 32 games but their players trudged off the pitch knowing that the pressure will have only grown next weekend when they travel to fourth-placed Sagan Tosu, themselves still mathematically in with a chance on 56 points after beating regelated Tokushima Vortis 1-0. Gamba host mid-table Vissel Kobe next Saturday.

Urawa captain Yuki Abe tried to put a positive spin on an abject performance by the Reds.

"We still control our destiny," he said. "We can't afford to sit around moping about it. All we can do is concentrate on our next game and go again."

Seven-times champions Kashima Antlers could still have a say after a 2-1 win over visiting Kawasaki Frontale kept them in third place on 57 points.