In his second game after joining Akira Nishino's side, the Brazilian forward scored in the 73rd minute to help Gamba edge Jubilo Iwata 2-1 to move up to third in the J. League Division One table.

Jubilo, sixth going into the game, attacked hard with Hiroki Yamada making the early running.

The rookie midfielder hit the post in the 19th minute before Brazilian forward Gilsinho went close with his shot in the 24th minute.

But Gamba, who won 4-1 at Kashima Antlers on Wednesday, went ahead in the 26th minute when defender Sota Nakazawa reacted quickly to a loose ball following a corner by Yasuhito Endo and scored from close-range with his right foot.

Jubilo levelled the scores five minutes into the second half after fine work by Yamada who dribbled before passing to Ryoichi Maeda and he laid the ball off for Daisuke Nasu to strike home from outside the box.

Gamba boss Nishino then brought on Rafinha and then midfielder Hayato Sasaki in the 72nd minute. The pair combined for the crucial goal a minute later.

Sasaki received a pass from Endo and surged down the right before sending in a cross for Rafinha.

The Brazilian, signed from second division club Thespa Kusatsu, connected with a header in the area for his third goal in the last two matches.

"After sending in Rafinha, we pressured our opponents well up front. The Sasaki-Rafinha hotline is so far working well," said Nishino.

Endo commented: "We have collected six points from these last two games on the road, and I am satisfied with that. As we are in a good position [in the table], I hope we can keep collecting points."

In Hiroshima, Japan forward Tadanari Lee struck twice in Sanfrecce's 4-0 victory over Shimizu S-Pulse, helping the hosts collect their first win in five games to move up from ninth to sixth.

Lee put the hosts ahead in the fourth minute when he got on the end of a Kohei Morita rebound.

Kota Hattori's crisp cross forced Shimizu defender Eddy Bosnar to put a clearance into his own goal in the 39th minute.

Georgian midfielder David Mujiri made it 3-0 three minutes after coming off the bench, and Lee tapped in a Hattori pass in injury-time for his ninth strike of the season.

In Yokohama, forward Masashi Oguro scored two goals to help F. Marinos rally past Omiya Ardija 2-1 and extend their unbeaten run to eight games.

Trailing 1-0 in the 53rd minute, Oguro connected with a Shunsuke Nakamura corner with a header at the near post before heading home a Takashi Kanai cross in the 65th minute.

Albirex Niigata edged hosts Montedio Yamagata 1-0 thanks to Atsomu Tanaka's second-half strike. Niigata have won the last two matches to move up to 11th.

Urawa Reds earned their first away win after holding off Kawasaki Frontale 1-0 with a first-half own goal.

Urawa midfielder Yosuke Kashiwagi's cross found defender Satoru Komiyama in the area and he scored an own goal in the 10th minute.

Kawasaki had 14 attempts on goal but could not find the net and suffered a second loss in a row.

Takayuki Yoshida scored twice as Vissel Kobe beat Ventforet Kofu 4-2 at home.