Reds, Hiroshima stay perfect
Urawa Reds and Sanfrecce Hiroshima sit dead level at the top of the early J League standings after both secured wins on the second matchday of the season.
Reds, who were 2014 J League runners-up behind Gamba Osaka, left it late to seal three points before Yuki Abe's 83rd-minute goal at home to Montedio Yamagata proved decisive. Hiroshima, who opened up their 2015 campaign with a 2-0 home win over Ventforet Kofu, were 2-1 winners at Matsumoto Yamaga and have an identical record to the Reds.
They stormed ahead through Yoshifumi Kashiwa's seventh-minute goal but were pegged back five minutes later by Manoel Obina. However, they made it two wins from two thanks to Koji Morisaki's goal seconds before half-time. Sagan Tosu also hold a 100 per cent record after two games with a slightly inferior goal difference to the top two after they won 1-0 at home to Gamba. Baek Sung-dong scored the only goal four minutes into the second half.
Shonan Bellmare came from behind to win 2-1 at Kashima Antlers. The home side led through Mu Kanazaki's 13th-minute goal but Shonan levelled through a Wataru Endo penalty before Mira grabbed a last-gasp headed winner. His day ended on a sour note though when he was sent off in the final seconds.
Kawasaki Frontale are fourth after a 2-2 draw at home to Vissel Kobe. Kazuma Watanabe put Vissel ahead but the hosts hit back thanks to Yoshito Okubo's goal just before the hour mark. Vissel went back in front through Shohei Takahashi but the lead was short-lived as Renatinho brought Kawasaki level again.
Ventforet Kofu bounced back from their defeat to Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the opening round with a 1-0 triumph over Nagoya Grampus Eight secured by Shohei Abe's 81st-minute goal. The day's other games - between Albirex Niigata and Shimizu S-Pulse and the FC Tokyo-Yokohama F Marinos clash - ended goalless.