Japanese J-League stage two co-leaders Kawasaki Frontale were held to a 1-1 draw at Jubilo Iwata on Sunday (17th July).

Japanese J-League stage two co-leaders Kawasaki Frontale were away to Jubilo Iwata.

Kawasaki started the day level on points with both Yokohama F Marinos and the Urawa Red Diamonds on nine.

The visitors had the games first clear-cut chance in the 16th minute, Yu Kobayashi broke free down the left side, but his shot glanced off the post.

In first-half stoppage time Jay Bothroyd tried his luck from distance, but the Kawasaki goalkeeper dealt with it comfortably.

But Bothroyd, who has played for a variety of English clubs including Coventry City, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Cardiff City and Queen's Park Rangers, is impressing on the latest stop of his nomadic career.

The Englishman was picked out by Kawabe in the 53rd minute to give Iwata a 1-0 lead.

Shortly after the hour mark the equaliser arrived for Kawasaki, Yu Kobayashi slipped between two defenders and lifted his shot past Iwata 'keeper Ko Shimura.

Jubilo Iwata came close to stealing all three points in the 82nd minute when Yoshiaki Ohta's wonderful drive slammed off the crossbar.

Kawasaki moved on to ten points while Jubilo Iwata pick up their third point of the J-League second stage, so Kawasaki remain in the joint lead in the second stage of the campaign.