Intro:

Vissel Kobe beat Kashima Antlers 3-2 at the Kashima Soccer Stadium on Saturday to move into first place in the Japanese J-League. Sanfrecce Hiroshima can return to top of the table if they win at Albirex Niigata on Sunday.

Script:

Before kick-off a minute's silence was held for Kashima Antlers' former stadium announcer Danny Ishio, who passed away this week.

Vissel Kobe travelled to Kashima on Saturday knowing a win would propel them to the top of the J-League.

Perhaps the seven hour journey south was in the visitors’ legs as Yasushi Endo put the Antlers ahead inside ten minutes.

Kobe then equalised after Woo-Young Jung's fantastic free-kick.

Kashima took the lead for the second time thanks to Davi, in controversial fashion.

The linesman flagged for offside, play stopped and Kobe 'keeper Kaito Yamamoto returned the ball for the resulting free kick. But the Brazilian intercepted the pass and his goal was allowed to stand by the referee.

Kobe's dismay became delight when they won a penalty after a blatant handball by Takeshi Aoki, who was shown a second yellow card. Brazilian Marquinhos stepped up to square the match at 2-2.

Keijiro Ogawa played a one-two with Marquinhos and Ogawa nodded in what proved to be the winner.

The Hyogo prefecture club’s name is linked to the English word ‘victory’ and that's exactly what they achieved today.