A superb Yasuki Kimoto strike proved the difference as FC Tokyo grabbed a 1-0 win at Sagan Tosu in the J-League first division on Friday, their first victory in five games.
The defender smashed home from a tight angle in off the corner of the framework in the 11th minute at Ekimae Real Estate Stadium to move the visitors up to 26 points, nine behind the leaders ahead of the weekend's fixtures. Tosu remain on 14 points, above the relegation zone on goal difference.
"I hit it without hesitation and that worked out well," said Kimoto, who was initially ruled out for offside after a cleared corner was headed back into the box. "I'm really happy we kept a clean sheet too, something hard to come by in the league."
Tokyo captain and Paris Olympics hopeful Kuryu Matsuki thought he had doubled the lead in the 24th minute, a tap-in into an empty net following a misplaced pass in the Tosu backline, but an offside decision went in the home side's favor this time.
Tosu had their best chance in the 38th minute but attacker Ayumu Yokoyama's shot at the back post off a right-wing cross was blocked on the line by Tokyo keeper Taishi Brandon Nozawa.
Matsuki and Diego Oliveira both flashed shots narrowly wide in the second half but the misses did not prove costly.
