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Kashima, Japan. The J-League authorities have a vital decision to make after the weekend clash between the two top teams in the table was washed out with 15 minutes remaining.

When the game was called off, second-place Kawasaki Frontale — which entered the game seven points off the lead — was 3-1 ahead against leader Kashima Antlers.

The J-League said it would decide on Tuesday whether to replay the match from the start or only the remaining 15 minutes.

If only the final 15 minutes are played and Kawasaki hangs on to win, the gap at the top will be cut to four points with nine games remaining. Kashima is seeking an unprecedented third consecutive championship.

North Korean forward Chong Tese scored two goals in the first half and Juninho added another after the break, while Kashima’s sole goal came from Marquinhos.

Elsewhere, Yosuke Kashiwagi scored twice as third-place Sanfrecce Hiroshima defeated Yokohama Marinos 3-2.

Gamba Osaka defeated Vissel Kobe 3-2, with a brace from Takahiro Futagawa, and is a point behind Hiroshima and fourth-place Shimizu S Pulse, which had a 1-0 win over Omiya Ardija thanks to a goal by Norwegian striker Frode Johnsen. Shimizu is unbeaten in 10 J-League games.

Kyoto climbed to eighth as substitute Kim Seng-yong scored the winner with four minutes remaining to give his team a 2-1 win over FC Tokyo.

Urawa Reds ended a dismal run of six successive league defeats by winning 4-1 against Montedio Yamagata. Sergio Escudero, Robson Ponte, Hajime Hosogai and Marcus Tulio Tanaka scored for Urawa, which improved to 37 points.

Kisho Yano scored the lone goal as Albirex Niigata defeated JEF United Chiba 1-0, putting the losers five points from safety.

Kashiwa Reysol boosted its hopes of avoiding relegation with a 3-2 win away at Nagoya Grampus, closing within two points of Montedio Yamagata, which is just out of the relegation places .


Associated Press