Sanfrecce Hiroshima missed a chance to move atop the J-League first division after a pulsating 2-2 draw at home with Kawasaki Frontale on Sunday.
The only unbeaten J1 team after 10 games, Hiroshima found Kawasaki keeper Naoto Kamifukumoto in spirited form at Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima and settled for a point that moved them to 18 points, one below leaders Cerezo Osaka, and Machida Zelvia.
The dominant home side led in the 38th minute when forward Yuki Ohashi soared high to nod in captain Sho Sasaki's cross from the left, but Kamifukumoto kept the damage to a minimum heading into the break as his vital touch tipped Taishi Matsumoto's shot onto the bar in the 45th minute after the midfielder was set up inside the box by Ohashi.
Kawasaki forward Yu Kobayashi came on at halftime, and the 36-year-old equalized in the 65th minute when he pounced on a failure by Hiroshima's defense to clear a free kick.
Marcinho spurned a huge chance before Kobayashi went off injured, but his substitute, Shin Yamada, scored with his first touch in the 74th minute after Hiroshima keeper Keisuke Osako's miscued clearance allowed Akihiro Ienaga to provide the assist.
The frantic encounter saw Hiroshima level just a minute later when Makoto Mitsuta's chipped cross was turned in by Mutsuki Kato. Ohashi then had two unmarked headers from point-blank range in the final 10 minutes, but both were denied by incredible saves from Kamifukumoto as Kawasaki moved up to nine points.
"We managed to play the way we wanted throughout the game, although the ways we conceded weren't good," forward Kato said. "We got a draw in the end and I'm taking the positives from our having extending our unbeaten run."
Elsewhere, Nagoya Grampus remained on 16 points after their six-game unbeaten run came to an end with a 2-1 defeat at Urawa Reds. Kashima Antlers won 2-1 at Gamba Osaka and moved into fifth, above Nagoya on goal difference.
Kashiwa Reysol drew 1-1 with Sagan Tosu, while Tokyo Verdy and Avispa Fukuoka drew 0-0.
