Oswaldo Oliveira's side are second in the standings and a win would have moved them to within six points of leaders Nagoya Grampus but Abe struck in the 95th minute to deny Antlers all three points. The draw was Kashima's third in a row.

Kashima had made the perfect start when Brazilian Marquinhos volleyed home his 10th goal of the season in the ninth minute.

The hosts dominated the encounter as they looked for a second and just as it looked as though they had done enough to secure victory, Abe struck deep into injury time.

Elsewhere, Lee Kuen-ho and Soki Hirai both scored twice as Gamba Osaka beat Omiya Ardija 5-1 to climb up to third.

Yuki Fukaya put Omiya ahead in the fourth minute but from then on it was one-way traffic as Lee equalised 10 minutes later before Takashi Usami - fresh from competing in the Asian Under-19 Championship for Japan - added a second just after the half hour.

Hirai made it 3-1 four minutes into the second half and completed his brace in the 82nd minute while Lee wrapped up the scoring with his second shortly before the final whistle.

The win moves Gamba above local rivals Cerezo Osaka after they lost 2-0 to Urawa Red Diamonds.

In other games, Kawasaki Frontale beat Montedio Yamagata 2-0, Velgata Sendai edged FC Tokyo 3-2, Sanfrecce Hiroshima were held to a 1-1 draw by Jubilo Iwata while the game between Shimizu S-Pulse and Kyoto Purple Sanga also ended 1-1.