Vegalta Sendai retained their two-point advantage at the top of the J.League with a resounding 4-1 victory over lowly Consadole Sapporo.

Atsushi Yanagisawa scored either side of half-time to give the home side a 2-0 lead before an own goal from Jiro Kamata after 49 minutes gave Consadole hopes of a comeback. However, Wilson's strike after 56 minutes and a 73rd-minute goal from Takayuki Nakahara wrapped up Vegalta's ninth win of the season.

Nearest challengers Sanfrecce Hiroshima were also 4-1 victors over Cerezo Osaka. Yojiro Takahagi's early opener for Sanfrecce was cancelled out by Yoichiro Kakitani six minutes before the interval. Hisato Sato restored the visitors' lead after 63 minutes and a brace from Naoki Ishihara made certain of the points.

A last-minute goal from Tsukasa Umesaki saw third-placed Urawa Red Diamonds snatch a 2-1 victory at Gamba Osaka. Akihiro Sato had fired Gamba in front after 15 minutes but that was cancelled out by Genki Haraguchi 14 minutes later.

Yusuke Tasaka's goal ten minutes from time earned Kawasaki Frontale a 1-0 win over Sagan Tosu which lifts them up to fourth.

Jubilo, Shimizu slip up
Jubilo Iwata and Shimizu S-Pulse lost ground on the top four after defeats. A Keijiro Ogawa hat-trick condemned Jubilo to a 3-1 loss at home to Vissel Kobe. Kosuke Yamamoto scored Jubilo's consolation. Shimizu were 1-0 losers at Albirex Niigata, Seiya Fujita scoring the only goal.

FC Tokyo also slipped down the standings with a 1-0 defeat at Yokohama F Marinos. Shingo Hyodo was on target on the half-hour mark.

Two goals from Kensuke Nagai secured a 3-2 win for Nagoya Grampus at Kashima Antlers. Mu Kanazaki was also on the scoresheet for Nagoya, with Shinzo Koroki and Masashi Motoyama replying for Kashima.

Kashiwa Reysol were 4-2 winners over Omiya Ardija, with the help of a brace from Masato Kudo. Leandro Domingues and Jorge Wagner were the other scorers for Kashiwa, while Omiya's goals came from Carlinhos Paraiba and Cho Young Cheol.