Kashima move closer to J-League title

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TOKYO, Nov 28, 2009 (AFP) - Japan international striker Shinzo Koroki scored twice to lead defending champions Kashima Antlers to a 5-1 win over Gamba Osaka, maintaining a two-point lead in the J-League standings on Saturday.

With one more game left in the season, Osaka lost their chance of winning the title, while Kawasaki Frontale kept their chance by beating Albirex Niigata 1-0, thanks to Korean international Chong Tese's only goal, in the 70th minute.

Kashima now have 63 points, Kawasaki 61 and Osaka 57.

After a goalless first half, Mitsuo Ogasawara sent a straight pass to Koroki, who defeated defender Sota Nakazawa to open the scoring in the 56th minute for Kashima.

Only two minutes later, Brazilian striker Marquinhos hit a sizzling shot that Osaka goalkeeper Yosuke Fujigaya failed to catch, allowing Takuya Nozawa to quickly hit the rebound back into the net.

Takahiro Futagawa pulled one back in the 60th minute, but Koroki again put his side two up on a cross from the left by Nozawa in the 62nd.

Osaka suffered a setback when Brazilian Lucas Severino received a second yellow card to be sent off in the 68th minute and their hopes of winning the title faded as two substitutes, Brazilian Danilo Gabriel de Andrade and Yuzo Tashiro, added two more.

"I didn't play well for the team recently, but I'm glad that I scored goals to help the team win in this big game, although we have one more game to go," said a jubilant Koroki.

"We can win the championship by winning the very last game. We are determined to win it to defend the title."

Next Saturday, Kashima play former Asian club champions Urawa Red Diamonds, while Kawasaki play Kashiwa Reysol.

Kashima's Brazilian coach, Oswaldo Oliveira, said: "The top position is the result of the fact we played positively. Urawa have some excellent players. We just try to continue to play our own game."

In other games, Kashiwa Reysol became the last team to be relegated to the second division when they drew with Omiya Ardija 1-1.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima defeated Jubilo Iwata 1-0, Nagoya Grampus outplayed Montedio Yamagata 2-0, Kyoto Purple Sanga blanked Urawa 1-0, and FC Tokyo downed Vissel Kobe 1-0.