Yokohama F Marinos' Brazilian striker Marcos Junior, left, battles for the ball with two defenders in the first half of a 2-0 J-League first-division win over Sagan Tosu at Yokohama's Mitsuzawa Nippatsu Stadium on June 23, 2021. (Kyodo)
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Marcos Junior exploited a rare defensive lapse by the J-League first-division's stingiest defense to knock in the winner in Yokohama F Marinos' 2-0 win over Sagan Tosu on Wednesday.
In the 63rd minute at Yokohama's Nippatsu Mitsuzawa Stadium, the Brazilian striker exploited some careless ball handling by Sagan midfielder Keya Sento to dispossess him in his own half and break the scoreless deadlock.
Marcos Junior rounded Sento, sprinted toward Sagan's goal and unleashed a fierce shot from the edge of the area that caromed off a defender and past keeper Park Il Gyu. The goal was just the ninth surrendered by Sagan in 19 games.
Another defensive lapse allowed Marinos to make it 2-0 in the 87th minute, when Brazilian defender Eduardo failed to control the ball in his own half. Marinos substitute defender Ryo Takano poked the ball clear, Leo Ceara took possession and delivered a through pass to defender Takuya Wada who fired home from just outside the six-yard box.
Park denied Leo Ceara on a one-on-one in the 92nd minute when the video assistant referees ruled the keeper had kicked the ball away with an outstretched leg before the Brazilian tripped over him.
The win lifted Marinos into second place on 37 points from 17 games, ahead of third-placed Nagoya Grampus on goal differential. Grampus have played three more games.
Elsewhere, Kyogo Furuhashi hit a hat-trick as Vissel Kobe thumped last-place Yokohama FC 5-0 at home. In Sendai, Thiago Santana scored the 84th-minute winner in a 3-2 Shimizu S-Pulse win seconds after Vegalta Sendai equalized.
Urawa Reds won 2-0 at Kashiwa Reysol, FC Tokyo won 1-0 at Tokushima Vortis, while Kashima Antlers played to a scoreless draw at Oita Trinita.
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