Vegalta Sendai closed to within a point of the J.League summit but missed the chance to overtake Sanfrecce Hiroshima, who were beaten 2-0 by Urawa Red Diamonds today.

Tsukasa Umesaki struck just before half-time for third-placed Urawa and Keita Suzuki clinched victory on the hour mark. But Vegalta failed to take full advantage as they led Kashima Antlers 2-0 and 3-1 but could only earn a draw after the hosts came back.

Shingo Akamine and Wilson put the title-chasers well on top and, after Shinzo Koroki pulled a goal back, Akamine's second restored the two-goal cushion. But Yuya Osako scored two minutes after half-time and Koroki's equaliser earned the Antlers a 3-3 draw.

Grampus Eight won 2-0 at Jubilo Iwata to remain level on points with Urawa, Marcus Tanaka and Kensuke Nagai scoring in the last minute of each half. Sagan Tosu and Kashiwa Reysol lie two points further back after both winning today.

Kashiwa enjoyed a 2-1 success away to Yokohama F Marinos, Takashi Kanai's own goal and Leandro Domingues' strike putting them in control before Masato Fujita's own goal brought Yokohama back into the game.

Sagan had to twice come from behind to beat rock-bottom Consadole Sapporo 3-2. Yoshihiro Uchimura and Tatsuki Nara put the hosts ahead but Sagan equalised on each occasion through Yohei Toyoda and Kei Ikeda before Ryunosuke Noda grabbed the winner.

Shu Kurata scored twice as Gamba Osaka won 3-1 at Shimizu S-Pulse and Omiya Ardija beat Cerezo Osaka by the same scoreline thanks to goals from Milivoje Novakovic, Daisuke Watabe and Takuya Aoki.

Ryo Okui earned Vissel Kobe a 1-0 win at FC Tokyo and Kawasaki Frontale won 1-0 at Albirex Niigata thanks to Yu Kobayashi's late goal.