24.08.2013 15:13 h

Football: Sanfrecce Hiroshima back at top of J-League

Duell in Tokyo
Duell in Tokyo

Sanfrecce Hiroshima returned to the top of the J-League table on goal difference after a 1-1 draw with bottom side Oita Trinita on Saturday, as previous leaders Yokohama Marinos lost 2-1 to Kashima Antlers.

Sanfrecce's Tsukasa Shiotani opened the scoring in the 57th minute only for substitute Yasuhito Morishima to salvage a point for Oita 12 minutes from time -- but it was enough to return the defending champions to the summit, having been knocked off the top the previous week.

Brazilian striker Marquinhos notched his 15th goal of the season to give Marinos a 19th-minute lead against Antlers, but Yuya Osako struck twice in the second half to leave Yokohama trailing Sanfrecce by an inferior goal difference of three.

Third-place Urawa Red Diamonds moved a point behind the front two after a 2-0 win over Shimizu S-Pulse, Yosuke Kashiwagi and Shinzo Koroki doing the damage with goals in the first half.

Kashima moved into fourth after Cerezo Osaka were held to a 1-1 draw with Nagoya Grampus, while Omiya Ardija dropped to sixth after losing their seventh consecutive game, 3-2 to Kashiwa Reysol.

Australia captain Lucas Neill came off the bench in the 77th minute to make his debut for Omiya, hitting the crossbar in injury time in the club's first game under new manager Tsutomu Ogura.

"It's difficult when the team has lost six games in a row," said the 35-year-old Neill. "It was nice to play my first game for Omiya but I probably should have scored."

Former Japan striker Yoshito Okubo hit his league-leading 17th goal of the season, but it was not enough to prevent Kawasaki Frontale from falling to a 2-1 defeat to Albirex Niigata.

Elsewhere, Ventforet Kofu beat Shonan Bellmare 2-1, a Kota Mizunuma goal gave Sagan Tosu a 1-0 win over Vegalta Sendai, and FC Tokyo and Jubilo Iwata drew 0-0.