Hiroshima increases J-League lead after Patric’s 6th goal

TOKYO (AP) Brazilian striker Patric scored his sixth goal of the season on Saturday as Sanfrecce Hiroshima beat Sagan Tosu 1-0 to increase its lead in the J-League.

Patric's right-footed shot from 17 meters (yards) in the 87th minute allowed Hiroshima to remain undefeated this season and improve to 25 points, nine ahead of FC Tokyo, which beat Shimizu S-Pulse 1-0.

In other matches, Eduardo Nieto, Kengo Nakamura and Yoshito Okubo scored second-half goals as defending champions Kawasaki Frontale thrashed Kashima Antlers 4-1.

German striker Lukas Podolski scored two goals to lead Vissel Kobe to a 3-0 win over Nagoya Grampus.

Takayuki Matsuura, Daiki Ogawa and Taishi Taguchi all scored as Jubilo Iwata beat Vegalta Sendai 3-0.

Urawa Reds and Consadole Sapporo finished 0-0 while Milos Degenek scored late to earn Yokohama F Marinos a point in a 4-4 draw with Shonan Bellmare.