YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) Manabu Saito scored in the second half on Saturday as Yokohama F Marinos beat defending champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1-0 to regain the lead in the J-League standings.
Saito beat Hiroshima goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa with a right-foot shot from 13 meters 10 minutes after the break for his fourth goal of the season.
Hiroshima came close to equalizing with seven minutes left on a long-distance effort from Hiroki Mizumoto that was turned away by Yokohama 'keeper Tetsuya Enomoto.
With five games left, Yokohama has 56 points, two ahead of Urawa Reds, which beat Kashima Antlers 2-1 away thanks to goals from Daisuke Nasu and Genki Haraguchi. Hiroshima is third on 53, three points ahead of fourth-place Kashima.
In other games, Yoshito Okubo scored his 22nd goal of the season to lead Kawasaki Frontale to a 2-1 win over relegation-threatened Jubilo Iwata. Brazilian striker Wilson scored both goals as Vegalta Sendai beat Nagoya Grampus 2-1.
