Kasper Junker hit a brace as Nagoya Grampus came from behind to beat Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2-1 in the J-League first division Saturday.
The Danish forward struck minutes before and after the break at Toyota Stadium as Grampus bounced back from their first defeat in 10 games in their last fixture, moving up to 26 points. It came at the expense of fellow in-form side Sanfrecce, who, having played a game less, remained on 23 points.
Grampus are four points behind leaders Vissel Kobe after they were held 1-1 away to struggling Kashiwa Reysol.
Hiroshima pinned Nagoya inside their own half early on as forward Takumu Kawamura's effort from a tight angle was deflected onto the post by Mitch Langerak. The Nagoya keeper was also forced to deny shots from distance by Ezequiel and Gakuto Notsuda before the visitors finally found their way past the Australian.
Kawamura chose to roll his free-kick into the box from a promising position, and it took two deflections off Nagoya players on its way into the net, the last touch coming off Kensuke Nagai, in the 37th minute.
But the Nagoya forward made amends six minutes later, flicking on a corner for Junker to nod home at the far post to draw level. Ezequiel responded immediately as the Brazilian attacker twice tested Nagoya's goal from the edge of the area in a frantic end to the half, but it was the home side who struck three minutes after the interval.
Ryoya Morishita squeezed in a low cross from the left, and Junker shrugged off Sanfrecce captain Sho Sasaki to put the ball into the net off his knee. The goal provided Grampus with much-needed confidence as they kept possession with more composure for the rest of the game.
"We showed a very good fighting spirit today," Junker said after taking his tally to seven goals this season. "(The first goal) was at an important time. The first half was not so good, but we did very well in the second half."
Sanfrecce did come close in the 71st and 79th minute, but Brazilian forward Douglas Vieira, who made his first start this term after netting five goals off the bench, headed narrowly wide and straight at Langerak.
Elsewhere, Kashima Antlers saw their five-game winning run without conceding come to an end as they drew 1-1 at home with FC Tokyo.
Yokohama FC stunned Kawasaki Frontale with a 2-1 home win, while Cerezo Osaka won 2-0 at Shonan Bellmare. Avispa Fukuoka and Urawa Reds played out a goalless draw.
