Leo Ceara netted a second-half penalty to salvage a 1-1 draw for J-League high flyers Cerezo Osaka against lowly Consadole Sapporo on Friday.
The point was not enough, however, to prevent Machida Zelvia from leapfrogging Cerezo back to the top of the J1 standings with a 2-0 home win against Kashiwa Reysol.
Ceara got on the scoresheet for the sixth straight J1 game by beating Consadole keeper Takanori Sugeno in the 71st minute at Yodoko Sakura Stadium after Daiki Suga was penalized for bringing down Lucas Fernandes.
Having started the day bottom of the table, Sapporo had been on track for the biggest upset of the round thanks to Yuya Asano's 27th-minute strike and the stellar defensive efforts of Sugeno.
Asano scored with his first touch off a through ball from Thailand international Supachok Sarachat, giving the shot enough power to just find the net after keeper Kim Jin Hyeon got a glove to it.
Ceara, who took his tally to nine J1 goals, said Cerezo would turn their focus to Monday's derby against local rivals Gamba Osaka.
"It's going to be a tough match and we want to play with spirit," the Brazilian forward said. "Teams that want to win the title need to keep building up points and we have to move on to the next game."
At Machida Gion Stadium, Oh Se Hun and Shunta Araki were on target as impressive newcomers Zelvia notched the seventh win of their maiden J1 campaign.
