Sagan Tosu threaded back-to-back defeats on Saturday fixture. It’s been a hard-fought and intense game at Kashima Stadium -one of the most difficult trips of the season- with an eventful first half of the contest. The all three goals were scored in the first 45 minutes, the opener from the kick-spot by Ito (19’) followed by Kanazaki’s right-footed equaliser (23’) and the second for locals by Shirasaki before the break (35’).

The second half saw unsucessfull scoring chances from both sides, so for the final whistle it was 2-1 on the scoreboard. Fernando Torres came onto the pitch on minute 84 -replacing Toyoda on the attacking line- and tried hard to make it 2-2, but soon after the substitution Sagan Tosu were reduced to ten men and visitors finally had to head back home empty handed.

- Match stats:

Kashima Antlers: Sogahata; Inukai, Machida, Koike, Nagaki; Nago (Bueno 87’), Misao, Leandro (Endo 83’), Shirasaki; Serginho, Ito (Kanamori 90’).

Sagan Tosu: Takaoka; Park, Mitsumaru, Yuji Takahashi, Hara; Cuenca (Yoshiki Takahashi 82’), Matsuoka, Fukuta (Ahn 80’), Harakawa; Kanazaki, Toyoda (Fernando Torres 84’).

Bookings: Yuji Takahashi (80’), Inukai (39’), Leandro (54’), Nagaki (58’), Kanazaki (81’).

Goals:

1-0 (19’) Leandro.
1-1 (23’) Kanazaki.
2-1 (35’) Shirasaki.