Kawasaki Frontale beat Gamba Osaka for the second time in a week as Yuji Yabu's goal proved the difference in a 1-0 victory at Todoroki Stadium.
Having knocked the defending champions out of the Asian Champions League last Wednesday, midfielder Yabu struck in the first-half to settle the J.League contest.
Kawasaki frustrated Gamba by denying the visitors space and took the lead after 32 minutes when Japan midfielder Kengo Nakamura won the ball in his own half and fed Renatinho down the left flank.
The Brazilian forward cut inside and beat two Gamba defenders in the box before finding Yabu and the 25-year-old finished at the far post.
Gamba looked to hit back after the break and were presented with a golden opportunity to level in the 53rd minute when Yabu turned from hero to villain as he brought down midfielder Takahiro Futagawa in the box.
Yasuhito Endo took the spot kick but keeper Eiji Kawashima, celebrating his 100th J.League appearance, dived to his right to push the ball away.
Endo then curled a free-kick into the side netting in the 70th minute and substitute Masato Yamazaki sent Hayato Sasaki's cross wide from close range with five minutes to go as Gamba were unable to find an equaliser.
"After beating Gamba in the ACL a week ago, we wanted to collect three points by any means again to set up our next league game against Kashima," said Kawasaki boss Takashi Sekizuka.
"And our players played hard as a unit without losing their concentration right up to the end of the game.
"We tried hard not to let Gamba pass the ball forward as much as they wanted and also aimed to score on the counter. Nakamura delivered the ball very effectively."
Gamba boss Akira Nishino said: "We allowed Frontale to do what they wanted to do and failed to break them down but that's what is missing from our game,"
Shinzo Koroki scored one and set up another as leaders Kashima Antlers triumphed 3-0 at Nagoya Grampus at Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya.
Koroki converted Masashi Motoyama's pass in the 23rd minute before Takuya Nozawa was set up by Park Joo-ho in the 44th minute to give the visitors a 2-0 lead.
Brazilian forward Marquinhos scored the third when he got on the end of Koroki's cross in the 54th minute to seal the points.
Kawasaki frustrated Gamba by denying the visitors space and took the lead after 32 minutes when Japan midfielder Kengo Nakamura won the ball in his own half and fed Renatinho down the left flank.
The Brazilian forward cut inside and beat two Gamba defenders in the box before finding Yabu and the 25-year-old finished at the far post.
Gamba looked to hit back after the break and were presented with a golden opportunity to level in the 53rd minute when Yabu turned from hero to villain as he brought down midfielder Takahiro Futagawa in the box.
Yasuhito Endo took the spot kick but keeper Eiji Kawashima, celebrating his 100th J.League appearance, dived to his right to push the ball away.
Endo then curled a free-kick into the side netting in the 70th minute and substitute Masato Yamazaki sent Hayato Sasaki's cross wide from close range with five minutes to go as Gamba were unable to find an equaliser.
"After beating Gamba in the ACL a week ago, we wanted to collect three points by any means again to set up our next league game against Kashima," said Kawasaki boss Takashi Sekizuka.
"And our players played hard as a unit without losing their concentration right up to the end of the game.
"We tried hard not to let Gamba pass the ball forward as much as they wanted and also aimed to score on the counter. Nakamura delivered the ball very effectively."
Gamba boss Akira Nishino said: "We allowed Frontale to do what they wanted to do and failed to break them down but that's what is missing from our game,"
Shinzo Koroki scored one and set up another as leaders Kashima Antlers triumphed 3-0 at Nagoya Grampus at Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya.
Koroki converted Masashi Motoyama's pass in the 23rd minute before Takuya Nozawa was set up by Park Joo-ho in the 44th minute to give the visitors a 2-0 lead.
Brazilian forward Marquinhos scored the third when he got on the end of Koroki's cross in the 54th minute to seal the points.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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