Sanfrecce Hiroshima handed visiting J-League top-flight leaders Vissel Kobe a 2-0 loss Saturday following first-half goals from Takaaki Shichi and Mutsuki Kato.
The result at Edion Stadium Hiroshima leaves Kobe with just a one-point buffer over second-place Yokohama F Marinos following their 1-1 draw with Sagan Tosu on Friday.
Despite nearly 60 percent of possession, Kobe created few chances and managed just one shot on target against a Hiroshima side prepared to hit quickly on the counter.
Michael Skibbe's men opened the scoring in the seventh minute when Shuto Nakano's cross from the right bounced across the area to Shichi, who controlled with his chest before firing home with his left boot.
The goal was the 29-year-old left-back's first since transferring from Avispa Fukuoka at the start of the year.
"Nakano played a pretty great ball. I just had to get on the end of it and shoot," Shichi said. "It felt like the first goal was going to be really important, so I'm glad I was able to score it."
Another ball into the box from the right led to Sanfrecce's second in the 30th minute, with Makoto Mitsuta lofting a diagonal pass that Kato nodded past Kobe keeper Daiya Maekawa.
Former Chelsea and Manchester United star Juan Mata made his J-League debut for Kobe off the bench in the 80th minute as manager Takayuki Yoshida made a late push to close the gap.
The 35-year-old Spanish playmaker had little impact, with goalkeeper Keisuke Osako and the Hiroshima defense comfortably seeing out the remaining minutes for their third straight clean sheet.
Elsewhere in the J1, Kashima Antlers climbed to third in the standings with a 1-0 win over visiting Cerezo Osaka. The eight-time champions leapfrogged Nagoya Grampus, who lost 1-0 away to Avispa Fukuoka.
At the other end of the table, last-place Shonan Bellmare earned three vital points with a 1-0 win away to Consadole Sapporo.
