Urawa Reds only managed to reduce their gap to J.League leaders Gamba Osaka to four points after battling to a 1-1 draw against Yokohama F.Marinos.
Looking to keep pace with Gamba, who won 2-1 at JEF United Chiba on Saturday, Urawa played strongly in the first half and could have taken the lead as Washington hit the post in the 24th minute and Shinij Ono had his effort on the half-hour denied by Marinos goalkeeper Tetsuya Enomoto.
Marinos were looking to end a three-game losing run and they improved after the break, taking the lead in the 51st minute when former Reds midfielder Koji Yamase blasted in a shot from the left side of the box.
Cheered on by 51,829 fans at Saitama, Urawa stepped up the pressure and levelled the scores in the 67th minute when Brazilian defender Nene buried the equaliser after meeting Robson Ponte's free-kick with a volley.
The home team, who reached the AFC Champions League quarter-finals in midweek, could have secured all three points but Washington failed to take advantage of a pair of opportunities late in the match, leaving Urawa four points adrift of top spot as the J.League heads into a two-week break due to the national team's hosting of the Kirin Cup.
"I'm not satisfied with the result today," said Urawa manager Holger Osieck. "Our players gave their best efforts until the end. But the problem is that we were lacking a finishing touch.
"On the other hand, the positive thing for us is that the hard part of our schedule is now over. We will now get an opportunity to rest mentally and physically before moving on to our next game," added the German.
Third-placed Kawasaki Frontale missed out on a chance to move ahead of Urawa on goal difference after they were surprisingly held to a 1-1 draw at home by lowly ranked Omiya Ardija.
Omiya substitute Manabu Watanabe struck in the last minute to cancel out Masahiro Ohashi's 65th minute opener as the visitors moved off the foot of the table.
Frontale, who have also advanced to the last eight of the AFC Champions League, remain two points behind Reds and six behind leaders Gamba in the domestic league.
In Iwata, Albirex Niigata rallied in the second half to defeat hosts Jubilo Iwata 4-2.
Trailing 2-1, Niigata forward Kisho Yano equalised in the 54th minute before goals by Brazilians Marcio Richardes in the 75th minute and Edmilson seven minutes later sealed victory for the visitors.
Marinos were looking to end a three-game losing run and they improved after the break, taking the lead in the 51st minute when former Reds midfielder Koji Yamase blasted in a shot from the left side of the box.
Cheered on by 51,829 fans at Saitama, Urawa stepped up the pressure and levelled the scores in the 67th minute when Brazilian defender Nene buried the equaliser after meeting Robson Ponte's free-kick with a volley.
The home team, who reached the AFC Champions League quarter-finals in midweek, could have secured all three points but Washington failed to take advantage of a pair of opportunities late in the match, leaving Urawa four points adrift of top spot as the J.League heads into a two-week break due to the national team's hosting of the Kirin Cup.
"I'm not satisfied with the result today," said Urawa manager Holger Osieck. "Our players gave their best efforts until the end. But the problem is that we were lacking a finishing touch.
"On the other hand, the positive thing for us is that the hard part of our schedule is now over. We will now get an opportunity to rest mentally and physically before moving on to our next game," added the German.
Third-placed Kawasaki Frontale missed out on a chance to move ahead of Urawa on goal difference after they were surprisingly held to a 1-1 draw at home by lowly ranked Omiya Ardija.
Omiya substitute Manabu Watanabe struck in the last minute to cancel out Masahiro Ohashi's 65th minute opener as the visitors moved off the foot of the table.
Frontale, who have also advanced to the last eight of the AFC Champions League, remain two points behind Reds and six behind leaders Gamba in the domestic league.
In Iwata, Albirex Niigata rallied in the second half to defeat hosts Jubilo Iwata 4-2.
Trailing 2-1, Niigata forward Kisho Yano equalised in the 54th minute before goals by Brazilians Marcio Richardes in the 75th minute and Edmilson seven minutes later sealed victory for the visitors.
Copyright (c) Press Association
