Japan right-back Seiya Maikuma set up Leo Ceara's 69th-minute winner as Cerezo Osaka extended their record unbeaten start to the J-League top-tier campaign to seven games with a 1-0 win at Albirex Niigata on Sunday.
Four wins and three draws leave Cerezo third in the table on 15 points, behind Sanfrecce Hiroshima on goal difference after they beat Shonan Bellmare 2-0 at home on a Yuki Ohashi brace. J1 debutants Machida Zelvia remain top on 16 points after winning 1-0 at Kawasaki Frontale with 10 men.
Albirex played to their strength and held the bulk of possession in the first half as Cerezo, without their former Japan No. 10, Shinji Kagawa, due to injury, got little sight on goal at Denka Big Swan Stadium.
But the visitors found themselves ahead after underlapping Maikuma was picked out inside the box by a clever chip from right-winger Lucas Fernandes. After taking the ball down on the chest, Maikuma got away from a sliding challenge before floating a left-footed cross for Leo Ceara to powerfully nod home.
While Cerezo continued their impressive run of scoring the opener in every game this term, the visitors also remained solid at the back despite a flurry of attacks from Albirex late on as Motoki Nagakura and Michael James Fitzgerald could only send their headers into the hand of Cerezo keeper Kim Jin Hyeon.
"As expected, we had a long defensive period. I thought how we can control the game defensively would be a key point," Cerezo manager Akio Kogiku said. "Our players were extremely patient in defending...We hope to win the next game too and continue our record start."
Niigata drew blank for the second straight game and suffered their first back-to-back defeat of the year as they stayed on eight points.
Elsewhere, reigning champions Vissel Kobe went down to 10 men and lost 2-1 at home to Yokohama F Marinos and stayed on 11 points. Urawa Reds beat Sagan Tosu 3-0, while Nagoya Grampus and Avispa Fukuoka drew 0-0.
Tokyo Verdy and Kashiwa Reysol drew 1-1, while Jubilo Iwata won 3-0 at Kyoto Sanga.
