Kashima Antlers pulled four points clear at the top of the J.League 1 on September 23, extending their unbeaten run to eight matches after overturning an early deficit to defeat Cerezo Osaka 3-1 at Kashima Soccer Stadium.
With the result, Kashima now sit on 61 points, holding a comfortable cushion over nearest challengers Vissel Kobe, who remain in second place following their emphatic 4-0 home win over Tokyo Verdy.
Kyoto Sanga left it late to salvage a 1-1 draw against Machida Zelvia, moving level on 56 points and edging Kashiwa Reysol into fourth on goal difference. Kashiwa were left frustrated after being held to a goalless stalemate by Sanfrecce Hiroshima, both sides squandering opportunities to take advantage of their home fixtures.
Cerezo came out with intent in Ibaraki, with winger Shion Homma heavily involved in the early proceedings. The lively midfielder first created a chance for Motohiko Nakajima, whose shot was denied by Kashima goalkeeper Tomoki Hayakawa, before winning a penalty after being brought down by Kei Chinen inside the box. Brazilian midfielder Vitor Bueno made no mistake from the spot, sending Hayakawa the wrong way to put the visitors ahead in the 28th minute.
Chinen quickly made amends for conceding the penalty, rising highest just three minutes later to head home Naomichi Ueda’s pinpoint cross from the right flank. The veteran center-back was involved again early in the second half, threading a clever ball behind the Cerezo backline that released Leo Ceara. The Brazilian striker drove into the area before deftly finishing with the outside of his boot for his 16th goal of the campaign — moving him joint-top in the J1 scoring charts.
Kashima manager Toru Oniki then rolled the dice with a double substitution in the 67th minute, and the decision paid off almost instantly. Chinen dispossessed a Cerezo midfielder high up the pitch and quickly fed Aleksandar Cavric, whose curling cross from the left found fellow substitute Yuta Matsumura, who guided the ball past the goalkeeper to seal the victory.
“I practice my crossing every day, so I’m happy to see it come off like that,” captain Ueda said of his first-half assist. “Leo asked for the ball into space and I delivered it — he did the rest. We’ll fight to win all the remaining games and bring the title back to Kashima.”