J-League Race Down to Wire as Niigata Stun Marinos

Albirex Niigata stunned J-League leaders Yokohama Marinos 2-0 on Saturday to send the title race down to the final day of the season.

A win would have been enough for Marinos -- holding a four-point lead with two games remaining -- to clinch their first championship since 2004 in front of 62,632 home fans.

But second-half goals from Niigata's Kengo Kawamata and Musashi Suzuki put Yokohama's celebrations on hold and let Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Kashima Antlers back into contention heading into next Saturday's final fixtures.

Defending champions Sanfrecce beat relegated Shonan Bellmare 1-0 to move two points behind Marinos, with Antlers one point further back after a 2-1 win over Cerezo Osaka.

Marinos are away to Kawasaki Frontale on the final day of the season, while Sanfrecce and Antlers go head-to-head in Kashima.

A win for Marinos would guarantee them their fourth J-League title, but anything less would hand Sanfrecce the trophy if the Hiroshima side beat Antlers.

Marinos have a goal difference of +19 while Sanfrecce are on +20.

Antlers' +10 goal difference makes them rank outsiders for the title even if they beat Sanfrecce and Marinos lose to Frontale.

"The players are down at the moment, but they have to pick themselves up and prepare for next weekend's game," said Marinos manager Yasuhiro Higuchi.

"It's still in our own hands."

Urawa Red Diamonds saw their title hopes ended by a 4-1 defeat to Sagan Tosu.

Urawa began the day in second place, four points behind Marinos, but a hat-trick from Sagan's Yohei Toyoda helped eliminate the 2006 champions from title contention.

Cerezo's championship ambitions were also halted by defeat to Antlers.