After Albirex Niigata and Urawa Red Diamonds won yesterday to trim the runaway leaders' advantage to seven points, Kawasaki were on course to cut it further when Juninho opened the scoring for the home side from the penalty spot after 33 minutes after Kashima right-back Atsuto Uchida was sent-off for handling Hiroyuki Taniguchi's shot on the line.

But last year's runners-up were forced to settle for a tie for second place alongside Albirex and Urawa after Shinzo Koroki fired home from a tight angle to equalise for Kashima four minutes after the hour mark as the Antlers stretched their unbeaten run to 14 games.

"I suppose you don't say congratulations for a draw in Japan. But with today's draw, I think we can," said Kashima's Brazilian coach Oswaldo de Oliveira.

"After we went down to 10 men, our players played with intelligence."

Albirex hold the advantage and second place on goal difference with Urawa fourth, six points clear of fifth-placed FC Tokyo.

Elsewhere, substitute Yuki Maki struck a stoppage-time winner as Nagoya Grampus edged out sixth-placed Gamba Osaka 2-1 to end their four game losing streak.

Brazilian striker Leandro had sent Gamba on their way after just eight minutes, but after compatriot Davi equalised for the home side from the penalty spot just before the break, Maki popped up to snatch all three points to help Nagoya move up to ninth.

Finally in Hiroshima, Ryoichi Maeda's 16th-minute strike was enough as seventh-placed Sanfrecce Hiroshima beat Jubilo Iwata 1-0.