Champions Gamba continue rapid slide
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Japanese champions Gamba Osaka continued their alarming slide after sweeping all before them last season as they were beaten 5-3 by Kawasaki Frontale. The 2014 domestic treble winners finished fourth in this year's J-League first stage and fell to eighth in the second stage standings after a torrid visit to eastern Japan.
Former Japan striker Yoshito Okubo found the net twice for Kawasaki, who won a frenetic game to keep alive their slim title hopes. Frontale improved to 23 points from 13 second-stage matches, five adrift of leaders Sanfrecce Hiroshima, beaten 1-0 at home by FC Tokyo on Saturday. Gamba have 22 points.
Kashima Antlers joined Hiroshima on 28 points after a 2-0 win at Vissel Kobe, setting up a thrilling finale. Okubo settled a see-saw game by converting from the penalty spot with 15 minutes to go before teeing up Brazilian Elsinho for Kawasaki's fifth to add insult to injury for the visitors.
"There are still four games to play but if I keep scoring the team will be in with a chance (for the title)," Okubo told local media after notching two more goals to give him a league-leading 21 for the season. "I'll keep doing my job for the team and the results will follow."
First-stage winners Urawa Reds were held to a 1-1 home draw by lowly Sagan Tosu on Saturday and currently occupy fourth place.
Meanwhile, former Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura rolled back the years with a sublime free kick to ice a 3-1 win for Yokohama F-Marinos at northern club Vegalta Sendai. The misery continued for bottom club Shimizu S-Pulse as a 1-0 defeat away to fellow strugglers Matsumoto left them marooned at the foot of the first-division table on just eight points.