Kennedy, who hadn't scored in Nagoya's previous three games after a good run of form in mid-June, hit the back of the net on 35 minutes against Kashima.

Antlers had gone ahead after two minutes thanks to Yuya Osako's close-range header, but Kennedy equalised when he powered home a header from a corner.

The Australian, who put in a full shift, was then involved in the winner on 79 minutes, when he chested down a cross which fell to Igor Burzanovic to lash home.

Nagoya, who are the reigning champions in Japan, are now unbeaten in their past nine matches and have moved up to fourth on the table.

Elsewhere, Socceroo Matthew Spiranovic played a full game in defence as struggling Urawa Reds claimed a much-needed 2-0 victory over Kawasaki Frontale.

And Spiranovic had a major hand in Urawa's second goal, when his goalbound header from a corner was saved by the Frontale keeper but only to the feet of Mitsuru Nagata who scored from close range.

Urawa are now unbeaten in their past five matches and up to 13th on the table.

Meanwhile, Eddy Bosnar spurned a late chance as Shimizu S-Pulse drew 0-0 at Vegalta Sendai.

Bosnar, who played a full game, found himself unmarked from an 84th-minute free-kick which he headed into the ground but it bounced agonisingly over the crossbar with the keeper beaten.

Fellow Australian Alex Brosque started for Shimizu but was replaced after 69 minutes.

In Korea's K-League Cup final, Iain Fyfe played a full game at the back as Busan I'Park went down 3-2 to Ulsan Hyundai.

Finally, in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers, Dylan Macallister put in a full shift up front as Icelandic side Breidablik lost 5-0 to Rosenborg.