Tokyo Verdy produced a remarkable second-half comeback to score three goals and grab a 3-3 draw away to Kashima Antlers in the J-League first division on Sunday, stretching their unbeaten run to 10 games.
Kashima took an early 2-0 lead but threw away the chance to win their fourth straight game and move within a point of leaders Vissel Kobe and Machida Zelvia. Verdy, the champions of the J-League's first two seasons in 1993 and 1994, returned to the top tier for the first time in 16 years this season and have not lost since March 9.
Verdy forward Yudai Kimura conceded an early penalty after touching the ball with his elbow off a corner, with Kashima striker Yuma Suzuki rolling the ball home from the spot five minutes in at Kashima Stadium.
Shintaro Nago only needed three more minutes to double the lead as he latched on to Kimito Nono's well-weighted through ball down the right, drove inside and steered past Verdy keeper Matheus.
Nago turned the provider as an efficient Kashima got their third five minutes after the break when the attacker's corner was headed in by unmarked defender Naomichi Ueda. Verdy were not trudging off, however, with substitute Kosuke Saito netting low from outside the box in the 69th minute to kick-start an unlikely comeback.
Kimura made amends for the penalty he conceded, tucking the ball in at the far post for Verdy's second in the 81st minute after Hiroto Yamami scuffed his shot off a low left-wing cross.
Midfielder Tomoya Miki completed the mission for a point in stoppage time, poking home a miscued shot from Kimura who was left totally unmarked after a free-kick was headed on inside the box.
"We're still challengers (in the J1)," Miki said. "Going behind early makes things difficult. We'll roll our sleeves up again for the next game."
