Albirex Niigata dealt a blow to Yokohama F Marinos' title hopes with a 4-2 win in the J.League today.

Cho Young-Cheol put the hosts ahead in the 20th minute, then quickfire strikes from Gotuko Sakai and Michael on the hour made it 3-0.

Yuzo Kurihara pulled one back in the 71st minute but thoughts of a comeback were ended when Bruno Lopes replied a minute later. Takashi Amano made it 4-2 in the last minute.

It left fourth-placed Yokohama three points behind leaders Gamba Osaka, but having played a game more than the leading trio.

Koji Nakajima scored in the last minute to give Sanfrecce Hiroshima a 1-0 win over Vissel Kobe, while second-half goals from Takuya Matsuura and Hisashi Jogo saw basement boys Avispa Fukuoka beat Omiya Ardija 2-0.

Ryoichi Maeda scored in the 57th minute to earn Jubilo Iwata a 1-1 draw at Montedio Yamagata, who had opened the scoring in the third minute through Shun Ito, while Yu Kobayashi's first-half effort gave Kawasaki Frontale a 1-0 win at Ventforet Kofu.