Kashima were missing former Japan striker Atsushi Yanagisawa, who suffered a broken foot in their previous game, but the home side had the better of the early opening with midfielder Takuya Nozawa causing problems for the visitors.

Urawa were missing prolific Brazilian forward Washington through injury, but with Ponte and the returning Yuichiro Nagai combining well they gradually began to assert control late in the first half.

Their efforts paid off in the 57th minute as Japan midfielder Keita Suzuki dribbled down the left flank and sent in deep cross to Nobuhisa Yamada.

The unmarked Yamada returned the ball with his first touch to the centre when the onrushing Ponte surged in to space to blast home a right-footed shot from 12 metres.

Kashima battled back, but Urawa held on to end Antlers' five-match unbeaten home run and move themselves within two points of Gamba, who won 4-0 at Oita Trinita on Saturday.

In Sunday's other match, last season's runners-up Kawasaki Frontale dropped one spot to fourth after they were held 1-1 at home by JEF United Chiba.

Frontale's North Korean forward Jong Tae-Se, who scored twice in a 3-0 win over Chunnam Dragons in the AFC Champions League game last Wednesday, put his team ahead in the 67th minute, heading home a Yusuke Mori cross from the right at the far post for his first goal in the J. League this season.

But Jong's strike was cancelled out in the 82nd minute, when JEF midfielder Koki Mizuno saw his free-kick from the left flank go directly into the net.