Vissel Kobe downed Shonan Bellmare 2-0 at home in the J-League first division on Saturday, bouncing back from their second defeat of the season a week ago to remain top.
After losing 3-2 at home to holders Yokohama F Marinos, Kobe put in a gutsy performance against a tenacious Shonan side and prevailed thanks to Ryo Hatsuse's first-half free-kick and Hotaru Yamaguchi's goal late on, moving up to 22 points.
In a busy opening period, Kobe's Koya Yuruki and Shonan's Japan forward Shuto Machino both forced their opposing keepers to diving saves with low efforts before Shonan left-back Daiki Sugioka's cross-cum-shot forced another fine stop from Kobe keeper Daiya Maekawa.
Hatsuse opened the scoring with a superb free kick from 30 meters out in the 21st minute, bending the ball up and over Shonan's unorganized wall and beyond the stretched arms of Bellmare stopper Song Bum Keun.
"We couldn't lose two in a row at home, and we've had a good week of preparation," left-back Hatsuse said. "(The free kick) was a bit far, but I took it with confidence, and I've finally managed to score here at Noevir Stadium."
Yuruki and Yuya Osako spurned big chances from inside the box on either side of the interval before Shonan grew into the game, with Machino seeing a deflected shot from outside the area and a powerful drive from inside both denied well by Maekawa.
Midfielder Yamaguchi gave Kobe breathing space with their second 10 minutes from time, rolling into the net off a pass from former Japan teammate Osako, who did well to keep the ball from three Shonan players.
Elsewhere, Sanfrecce Hiroshima moved up to 20 points as Douglas Vieira made another vital contribution off the bench for his fifth goal of the season, in stoppage time of a 1-0 win away to Cerezo Osaka.
Nagoya Grampus settled for a 1-1 draw away to Marinos as they moved to 19 points, one point ahead of the home side. FC Tokyo edged Albirex Niigata 2-1 at home to go up to 15 points.
Consadole Sapporo came from behind to overpower winless Yokohama FC 4-1 away, while struggling Kashiwa Reysol drew 1-1 at home with Kyoto Sanga.
