Youth product Kakeru Yamauchi and former Japan forward Yoshinori Muto scored late in each half as reigning champions Vissel Kobe saw off Machida Zelvia 2-1 away on Saturday, knocking the J-League first-division debutants from the top of the table.
Cerezo Osaka moved top on 18 points after Leo Ceara's header gave them a 1-0 home win over Kawasaki Frontale. Another unbeaten side, Sanfrecce Hiroshima, are second on 16 points following a 2-2 home draw with 10-men Shonan Bellmare that moved them ahead of Machida on goal difference.
In front of 39,080 at Tokyo's National Stadium, high-pressing Machida started off brightly, with left-midfielder Kazuki Fujimoto robbing the ball from Kobe center-back Matheus Thuler inside the box, only to fire over from an angle in the ninth minute.
Kobe grew into the game, with Daiju Sasaki's shot sailing narrowly wide and Muto's uncontested header off a free kick saved by a diving Koki Fukui. Sasaki also had clever touches in the air, followed by a ferocious 20-meter effort denied by the Machida keeper late in the half before the visitors broke the deadlock.
Forward Taisei Miyashiro drove into the box down the right and his backheel found Muto, whose shot was blocked, but a loose ball fell nicely for midfielder Yamauchi, who curled home his maiden J-League goal in his first professional start.
"I'm really happy to have scored on my first start," said the 22-year-old, who came out of university this year. I had plenty of time before the ball came and a clear view of the situation and where the keeper was. It's pleasing to win what was a big game for the team."
Kobe found themselves under pressure in the latter stages of the match but scored a crucial second through Muto in the 89th minute when the former Mainz and Newcastle attacker controlled a corner and blasted home a left-footed half-volley off the bar.
Machida, whose regular winger Yu Hirakawa and forward Shota Fujio are representing Japan at the U23 Asian Cup in Qatar, showed grit with substitute Shunta Araki's well-taken volley from distance saved before Kosovo defender Ibrahim Dresevic's composed finish halved the deficit in stoppage time.
Elsewhere, Yokohama F Marinos drew 2-2 at home against Shonan Bellmare. Kashima Antlers beat Kyoto Sanga 1-0 at home, and 10-man Nagoya Grampus won 1-0 away to Jubilo Iwata.
Albirex Niigata and Consadole Sapporo drew 1-1, while Keita Endo scored twice after FC Tokyo went down to 10 men to rescue a 2-2 draw against Tokyo Verdy in the capital derby.
