Leaders Machida Zelvia came from behind to defeat fellow title chasers Gamba Osaka 3-1 away from home Sunday after the hosts went down to 10 men in their J-League first-division clash.
Gamba took an early lead and were on top until right-back Riku Handa was sent off in the 33rd minute at Panasonic Stadium. The home side squandered the chance to go top of the table and instead fell five points behind J1 debutants Machida, who rose to 43 points.
The current holders, fourth-placed Vissel Kobe, beat Kashima Antlers 3-1 at home to move up to 37 points. Kashima, level on points with Gamba, sit second on goal difference.
Gamba winger Welton wreaked havoc down the left straight away and set up a good eighth-minute chance for Tunisia forward Issam Jebali, whose poor first touch let him down. But the Brazilian had to wait just a minute more to grab the opener.
Center-back Shinnosuke Nakatani's long diagonal pass found Welton, who laid the ball off and ran into the box for a return from captain Takashi Usami before beating Machida keeper Kosei Tani from a tight angle.
The match turned on its head as Machida were handed a one-man advantage. Handa was booked for a scything tackle on fellow Paris Olympics hopeful Yu Hirakawa before receiving his second yellow two minutes later for a wild lunge on Shunta Araki.
An already tense encounter heated up further when Machida made the most from one of their trademark long throws deep into first-half stoppage time. Kotaro Hayashi's throw was not cleared and Ibrahim Dresevic's shot was blocked only as far as Australia forward Mitch Duke, who leveled with a header.
"It was a very important timing as well to get a goal before halftime and it was just a reaction," said Duke, who made his first start this season. "It's been frustrating...It's very far into the season and I was ready for my chance and wanted to show I can be a starting member as well."
Forward Erik sneaked into the box before being denied by Gamba keeper Jun Ichimori in the 51st minute, but Machida kept up the intensity and took the lead 10 minutes later as halftime substitute Shota Fujio buried the penalty he won for getting tripped by Dawhan.
Keiya Sento found the top corner from inside the box for Machida's third in the 69th minute, with a tiring Gamba backline failing to reorganize after surviving an initial attack, leaving no way back for the home side.
Elsewhere, Cerezo Osaka beat Nagoya Grampus 2-1, Avispa Fukuoka won 1-0 at FC Tokyo and Urawa Reds eased past Jubilo Iwata 3-0. Kyoto Sanga won 1-0 at fellow strugglers Shonan Bellmare, while Kashiwa Reysol won 4-1 at Sagan Tosu.
