The result, coupled with Gamba Osaka's 6-3 victory over 10-man Kawasaki Frontale, saw Nagoya slip from first to third in the standings, while Gamba claimed top spot for the first time this season.

Nagoya failed to create any chances in the first half and fell behind in the 17th minute. Yoshiaki Ota's shot took a deflection off a home defender and Naoki Sugai was first to react to the loose ball to slot home from close range.

The hosts fought back after the break with Igor Burzanovic twice going close midway through the second half and Joshua Kennedy off target with a late header.

Sendai could have doubled their advantage on the counter-attack, though. Ota prodded wide and former Japan forward Atsushi Yanagisawa got past advancing goalkeeper Yoshinari Takagi but failed to find the empty goal with his shot.

"It was not a good result, but we played well. It was not Grampus' day," said Nagoya boss Dragan Stojkovic.

"Our players looked very tired because of the very hard schedule, and I was really afraid of that before the game.

"This is our first defeat at home this season, but I am not too disappointed. We played well in the second half and had many chances but couldn't score.

"The goal for Sendai was a fortunate one but that was good enough for them to win the game. We'll stay positive."

Sendai's victory marked their first league win over Nagoya since their first meeting in 2002.

Manager Makoto Teguramori said: "I thought if we could finish the first half at 0-0 that would be all right, but we actually scored on a set-play.

"I was then concerned with our players' response after that. But we ran till the very end of the game. Today's win can help us get together again to move on."

Gamba's Brazilian forward Rafinha scored a second-half hat-trick in their emphatic home win over Kawasaki.

Shoki Hirai and Kim Seung Yong gave Gamba an early two-goal cushion but Takuro Yajima and Kengo Nakamura got Kawasaki level before Koji Yamase gave the visitors a 3-2 half-time lead.

But Akira Nishino's side rallied after the interval and Rafinha equalised from a 47th-minute penalty.

Substitute Tomokazu Myojin put Gamba back ahead 12 minutes from time before two late goals from Rafinha helped the new leaders extend their unbeaten run to seven games.

Elsewhere, Kashima Antlers climbed a place to fifth by beating Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2-0 at home with goals from Daiki Iwamasa and Takuya Nozawa.

Kashiwa Reysol moved back up to second with a 3-2 win over bottom-of-the-table Avispa Fukuoka.

Yokohama F Marinos edged Jubilo Iwata 1-0 thanks to Yuji Ono's late goal, snapping their two-game losing streak.

Ryuji Bando bagged a hat-trick for Cerezo Osaka but they were held to a 3-3 draw at Shimizu S-Pulse.

Vissel Kobe collected their fourth straight win with a 2-1 home victory over Albirex Niigata.

Brazilian forward Paulinho struck twice as Ventforet Kofu edged Urawa Reds 3-2, while Omiya Ardija were held to a 1-1 home draw by Montedio Yamagata.