Kawasaki Frontale moved to second on the J-League table with a 1-0 win over Gamba Osaka overnight. It was Kawasaki's sixth win on the trot and came thanks to a 32nd minute goal from midfielder Yuji Yabu.

Goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima said it was a game the club needed to win to stay in touch with first-placed Kashima Antlers.

"We had expected Osaka to play aggressively, but this is a game we needed to win in order to take the championship," said Kawashima.