24.04.2016 14:59 h

Red alert as Urawa go top in Japan

Yuki Muto (r.)
Yuki Muto (r.)

Urawa Reds served notice of their title credentials Sunday when they edged Kawasaki Frontale 1-0 away to go top of the J-League.

Japan's best-supported side ended Kawasaki's unbeaten record when Yuki Muto smashed home the winner 10 minutes into the second half.

It completed a perfect week for the Reds after they reached the knockout stage of the Asian Champions League. They improved to 19 points from eight games in the first of the J-League's two stages.

Kawasaki have 17 points with Kashima Antlers stuck on 16 in third place after they were upset 2-0 at home by Kashiwa Reysol.

"We controlled the game well and kept looking to attack," said Reds coach Mihailo Petrovic. "Many people thought Kawasaki were a more attacking team than us, so I look forward to reading the analysis of journalists in tomorrow's papers."

Japan striker Takashi Usami gave 2014 treble winners Gamba Osaka a lift following their Asian Champions League elimination, scoring a late winner in a 1-0 victory at hapless Avispa Fukuoka.

Reigning Japanese champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima climbed to fourth on 14 points after a double from Nigerian-born striker Peter Utaka gave them a 2-1 win away to Yokohama F-Marinos.

In other games, Nagoya Grampus beat Albirex Niigata 2-1 at home while Vissel Kobe escaped with a 2-2 home draw with northern side Vegalta Sendai

There was more frustration for bottom club Shonan Bellmare as Omiya's visiting "Squirrels" made off with all three points on the Pacific coast thanks to a late Akihiro Ienaga strike.