TOKYO - Japan forward Koki Ogawa netted a brace off the bench as Machida Zelvia claimed a 2-1 comeback home win over Kawasaki Frontale on Wednesday to rise to the top of the J.League first division.
Arata Watanabe buried four goals as Mito HollyHock won the Ibaraki derby 4-2 at home to end powerhouse Kashima Antlers' perfect start to the season, while leaders Kashiwa Reysol also saw their winning start end as Solomon Sakuragawa's brace gave Cerezo Osaka a 2-0 home win.
Summer signing Ogawa came on at the hour mark at Machida Gion Stadium a minute after Yasuto Wakizaka capped a fine passing move to give Kawasaki the lead. Ogawa headed in off a corner in the 75th minute to level before tapping in at the far post six minutes later.
"I'm going for the top scorer," said the former NEC Nijmegen man after his debut goals for his new club. "I want to help Machida win the title."
Mito, playing their first full top-flight campaign, stunned local rivals Kashima with clinical Watanabe scoring with all his four shorts on target out of his five attempts in total.
"It was the first Ibaraki derby in J1 and I knew there wouldn't be much vibe around it unless we won," said captain Watanabe, who scored an eighth-minute penalty before netting three times to help Mito lead 4-1 by the 55th minute.
Kashima's Leo Ceara was at a double as the Brazilian forward continued his remarkable start to the campaign with eight goals in five games.
Sanfrecce Hiroshima beat Nagoya Grampus 3-0 at home and are fourth on 11 points, two points behind leaders Machida. JEF United Chiba suffered their fifth straight loss as they fell to a late 2-1 home defeat to Fagiano Okayama.
