The big Aussie striker, who made the switch to Japan from German side Karlsruhe, struck three minutes before half-time with a thumping header.

His goal looked like being enough to secure a victory for the home side as they still held the lead with less than 10 minutes remaining.

Sadly for Kennedy and his colleagues they were denied the win when the visitors levelled matters through Paulinho on 81 minutes.

Eddy Bosnar's JEF Chiba United take on Sanfrecce Hiroshima on Sunday evening.