Vegalta beaten late, chasers close gap

Takuro Yajima scored a stoppage-time winner to give injury-ravaged Kawasaki Frontale a dramatic 3-2 win over leaders Vegalta Sendai in the J.League on Saturday. Defender Akito Fukumori sent in a pin-point cross two minutes into added time that Yajima headed in to give the home side all three points. Vegalta coach Makoto Teguramori, whose side had gone 2-1 ahead in the 54th minute, said: "We missed [Taikai] Uemoto due to an injury, so I had to move [Makoto] Kakuda back. I think that caused the last goal we lost. We shouldn't lose when we play the second half like that." Kawasaki coach Yahiro Kazama said: "Of course I'm glad we gained the come-from-behind victory. We missed six to eight regular players due to injuries, but I think those who replaced them played well." Vegalta's league lead was reduced to two points by Sanfrecce Hiroshima. Jubilo Iwata, in third, are three points off top spot. Japan international Hisato Sato helped Sanfrecce beat bottom-placed Consadole Sapporo 3-1, while Ryoichi Maeda scored a brace as Jubilo hammered Omiya Ardija 4-0. Other results Fourth-placed Shimizu S-Pulse were held to a goalless draw by Yokohama F Marinos. In other games, seven-time champions Kashima Antlers defeated Vissel Kobe 2-1 with Shinzo Koroki scoring the decider in the 51st minute. Albirex Niigata goalkeeper Masaaki Higashiguchi's own goal gave a 2-0 win to defending champions Kashiwa Reysol, and FC Tokyo scored an equaliser in injury time to draw with Urawa Red Diamonds 1-1.