AP

SAITAMA, Japan (AP) — Daisuke Nasu and Yusuke Kashiwagi scored first-half goals on Saturday as Urawa Reds beat Kashiwa Reysol 3-1 to widen its lead in the J-League.

The hosts opened the scoring in the 20th minute on Nasu's header and doubled their advantage seven minutes later on Kashiwagi's left-foot shot from 13 meters.

Shinzo Koroki added a third after the break as Urawa improved to 50 points, six ahead of Kawasaki Frontale which was held to a 0-0 draw by FC Tokyo.

Yohei Toyoda and Kota Mizunuma scored second-half goals as third-placed Sagan Tosu beat Vegalta Sendai 2-1. Shingo Akamine scored Vegalta's only goal.

Toshihiro Aoyama and Naoki Ishihara scored as defending champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima beat Albirex Niigata 2-0 to improve to 37 points while Kashima Antlers beat Yokohama F Marinos 1-0 on a first-half goal by Yasushi Endo.

Elsewhere, Nagoya Grampus beat Ventforet Kofu 2-0, and Gamba Osaka beat crosstown rivals Cerezo Osaka 2-0 with goals from Hiroyuki Abe and Akihiro Sato.

Pedro Junior scored two goals to lead Vissel Kobe to a 3-1 win over Shimizu S-Pulse while at the bottom of the table Omiya Ardija beat last-placed Tokushima Vortis 2-0.