A Keiji Tamada hat-trick and a Josh Kennedy brace has helped league leaders Nagoya Grampus maintain their dominance on the J-League.
The 5-1 win over Shimizu S-Pulse on Friday enabled Nagoya to go seven points clear at the summit with Tamada netting in the 50th, 62nd and 71st minutes whilst Kennedy hit the target in the 58th and 83rd.
Kashima Antlers stayed in second spot with their 1-1 draw at Sanfrecce Hiroshima whilst Cerezo Osaka remained fourth following a stalemate at Vissel Kobe.
In other results, Omiya Ardija grabbed a vital 1-0 away win over FC Tokyo whilst Montedio Yamagata were held 1-1 at home by Shonan Bellmare. Urawa Reds won 2-0 at home against Albirex Niigata, Jubilo Iwata won 1-0 away at Kyoto Sanga, Gamba Osaka defeated Kawasaki Frontale 2-1 in Kawasaki and Vegalta Sendai grabbed a 1-0 away win at Yokoham Marinos.
Kennedy's two goals kept him at the top of the goalscorers list on 13, one clear of Ryoichi Maeda who scored Jubilo Iwata's winner whilst Tamada's treble took him to ten.
