Ota scored in the 85th minute to deny the Asian champions a share of the points in the game at National Stadium after Yuki Abe's second-half header for Reds had cancelled out Tadanari Lee's opener.

Reds went into their first game in five weeks following a break to accommodate Japan's World Cup qualifying campaign with Alex Santos and Robson Ponte returning to action after injury-enforced lay-offs.

Santos, however, was only to last 15 minutes, when he was forced off the pitch due to injury and by the half-hour mark Gert Engels' side were behind when Lee cut past goalkeeper Ryota Tsuzuki before scoring from close range.

Reysol went looking for a second and Ota, Popo and Alex all went close before Abe pulled Urawa level.

The Japan international defender met Ponte's 64th minute corner with a header that Reysol goalkeeper Takanori Sugeno was unable to stop.

Brazilian Franca hit the crossbar 12 minutes from time as Reysol continued to dominate and, with just five minutes to go, they finally earned a deserved win when Ota raced on to Franca's through ball before beating the advancing Tsuzuki to score into an empty net.

The win was Reysol's first over Urawa since July 2005 and saw the club move up to fourth in the standings.

"I don't think it was a bad game," said Engels. "But we gave the ball away cheaply. We need to be hungry, looking to win rather than just putting on a neat performance."

Urawa, however, remain in pole position in the league table after nearest challengers Nagoya Grampus Eight were hammered 4-0 by Kashima Antlers.

Antlers moved up to third in the table thanks to a brace from Brazilian forward Marquinhos as well as strikes from Danilo and Mitsuo Ogasawara, leaving them just one point behind Urawa.

Meanwhile, Omiya Ardija defeated Tokyo Verdy 2-0 with a brace from Denis Marques while Shimizu S-Pulse came from behind to beat Kyoto Sanga 2-1.

Gilsinho's second-half goal gave Jubilo Iwata a 1-0 win over Yokohama F Marinos and 10-man Albirex Niigata downed visiting Kawasaki Frontale 2-1.