Hiroshima and second-placed Vegalta Sendai both drew on Saturday, allowing third-placed Urawa Reds to move closer to the top of the J. League standings.

In Kashima, Hiroshima grabbed the lead with a goal from Hisato Sato in the 39th minute, but Osako ensured it was level at half-time by scoring in first-half injury time.

The visitors again went ahead, just three minutes after the break, thanks to defender Ryota Moriwaki.

But Osako bobbed up again with 15 minutes to play to deny Hiroshima victory.

Sendai were held 1-1 at home by Sagan Tosu, with the visitors going ahead in the 14th minute through Yohei Toyoda.

Shingo Akamine scored the equaliser 15 minutes later and neither side could manage a winner in the remaining hour of play.

Those two results gave Urawa Reds an opening and they took advantage with a 2-0 victory over Jubilo Iwata.

Yosuke Kashiwagi and Yuki Abe scored a goal in each half for Urawa, who moved to 34 points, just three behind Hiroshima and Sendai.

Bottom-club Consadole Sapporo scored an injury-time winner to snatch a dramatic 2-1 win over Nagoya Grampus, while Masato Kudo scored a hat-trick as reigning champions Kashiwa Reysol thumped Cerezo Osaka 4-1.

In other J. League results on Saturday, Yokohama F. Marinos scored all their goals in the second half to cruise past Shimizu S-Pulse 3-0, Albirex Niigata won 2-0 away to Tokyo and Kawasaki Frontale demolished Omiya Ardija 4-1, while Vissel Kobe and Gamba Osaka played out a 1-1 draw.