Japanese champions Gamba Osaka beat Urawa Reds 2-1 at home in the J-League's biggest grudge match on Saturday, while Shimizu S-Pulse were relegated to the second division.

Hiroyuki Abe's early scuffed goal and a flicked header from substitute Shun Nagasawa gave Gamba a cushion at Expo stadium before Zlatan Ljubijankic's stoppage-time drive set up a nervy finish.

Last year's treble winners climbed to fourth in the second-stage standings with 25 points from 14 games, six adrift of leaders Sanfrecce Hiroshima, who won 2-1 at home to Kawasaki Frontale.

"It was tough at the end but we battled hard for the points," said Gamba midfielder Yasuhito Endo after his 500th J-League top-flight appearance. "We know we can't afford to lose any more games."

Runaway first-stage winners Urawa slipped to sixth on 24 points.

While Gamba kept their title hopes alive, S-Pulse dropped out of the first division after a tepid 1-0 defeat by visiting Vegalta Sendai left them rock bottom with just eight points.

"No excuses," said S-Pulse manager Kazuaki Tasaka. "We just haven't been good enough."

Meanwhile, Kashima Antlers kept up the chase on Hiroshima with a 3-2 home win over mid-table Kashiwa Reysol, whose players were involved in a heated altercation with the away fans after the final whistle.

"We're all human beings and it's important to be careful how you speak to one another," said Reysol goalkeeper Takanori Sugeno. "The players are frustrated too."

Yokohama F-Marinos won 2-1 at home to Vissel Kobe thanks to an injury-time goal from Manabu Saito to leapfrog FC Tokyo into third, above Gamba on goal difference.