Shonan Bellmare and Yokohama FC both claimed vital wins at the bottom end of the J-League first division on Saturday to boost their survival hopes with two more games to go.
Bellmare saw off Nagoya Grampus 2-1 at home to move level on 31 points with 16th-placed Kashiwa Reysol, while bottom club Yokohama FC, currently occupying the only relegation spot this term at the foot of the 18-team top tier, won 3-1 at Sagan Tosu to move up to 29 points.
Yuki Ohashi scored in the 15th and 23rd minutes to give Bellmare a crucial two-goal cushion as the forward netted for the fourth straight game and took his season's tally to 13 goals. Nagoya halved the deficit through Tojiro Kubo in the 63rd minute, but the home team clung on to secure all three points.
Brazilian forward Caprini gave Yokohama FC the lead for good with a first-half stoppage-time penalty. They will host Shonan in a vital encounter after the international break on Nov. 25 in the season's penultimate fixture.
Kashiwa had to settle for a 1-1 draw at Kashima Antlers after taking a 77th-minute lead through forward Mao Hosoya's 13th goal of the season. Reysol defender Tomoya Inukai was penalized for a handball inside the box, and Diego Pituca converted from the spot for Kashima with three minutes to go.
Elsewhere, Gamba Osaka remained on 34 points after suffering a 2-1 comeback defeat at home to J-League Cup winners Avispa Fukuoka.
Consadole Sapporo and Sanfrecce Hiroshima played out a scoreless draw, as did Albirex Niigata and FC Tokyo.
