TOKYO —

Kashima Antlers recovered from a surprise defeat to lowly JEF United Chiba last weekend to maintain their slim lead in the J-League with a 4-1 demolition of Tokyo Verdy on Saturday. Shinzo Koroki volleyed home a 20th-minute opener and Daiki Iwamasa doubled the lead a minute from halftime before Marquinhos and substitute Takuya Nozawa added second-half strikes, helping Kashima move onto 38 points, one clear of Urawa Reds, who won 1-0 at FC Tokyo. Urawa scored the only goal of the game with a 68th-minute strike from Takahito Soma, while Nagoya Grampus remained two points adrift of the leaders in third place after a brace from Yoshizumi Ogawa, including an injury-time winner, led them to a 2-1 win at Vissel Kobe.
   
In Saturday’s other games, Denis Marques and Leandro were on target in the first half as Omiya Ardija ran out 2-0 winners at home to Gamba Osaka. Oita Trinita beat Albirex Niigata 1-0 courtesy of an early Yasuhito Morishima goal. Chiba got out of the bottom of the table for at least one day after a 1-1 draw with local rivals Kashiwa Reysol. On Sunday, Consadole Sapporo host Kyoto Sanga and Kawasaki Frontale welcome Jubilo Iwata. Struggling Yokohama F Marinos travel to Shimizu S-Pulse.

Kyodo

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