KASHIWA, Chiba Pref. — Kashiwa Reysol kept their noses in front in the J. League title race with a 4-0 win over Albirex Niigata on Thursday as all three championship contenders claimed victories going into the final three games of the season.
Reysol began the match at Hitachi Stadium two points clear of Gamba Osaka and three ahead of Nagoya Grampus, and a first-half double from Leandro Domingues got the Chiba side off to the perfect start as it bids to win its first-ever J. League title just a year after gaining promotion from the second division.
Goals from Jorge Wagner and Junya Tanaka after the break secured the points from yet another impressive performance by Kashiwa, but a 1-0 win for Gamba over Kashima Antlers and a 3-1 victory for Grampus over Cerezo Osaka meant the day ended with the identity of this season's champion little clearer than it was when it began.
"Motivation for the players and myself is extremely high, but we have to prepare for each game as it comes," said manager Nelsinho of Reysol's remaining matches against Shimizu S-Pulse, Cerezo and Urawa Reds. "Next we have S-Pulse, and they are a very good team who have been playing well recently.
"But we are top of the table, so if we continue to win our games then we will be champions. We are not watching what the other teams are doing. It's up to us to do our job."
The match was only six minutes old when Masato Kudo picked Kazuhiko Chiba's pocket in the center circle before setting off toward the Albirex goal, and the tussle between the two continued until the defender brought his man down in the box for a penalty. Leandro made no mistake from the spot, placing his kick low into the corner past Yohei Takeda.- by http://www.japantimes.co.jp
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