However Urawa goalkeeper Norihiro Yamagishi proved tough to beat from twelve yards, as he guessed correctly to fling himself to his right and keep out Renatinho’s low spot-kick.

The stage was set for a final Urawa goal and it came from the unlikeliest of sources, as substitute Satoshi Horinouchi tapped home after Kawashima could only parry Edmilson’s curling right-foot strike.

“I think we’re on the right track, regardless of what anyone thinks and today’s result and performance back that up,” Urawa coach Finke told The Daily Yomiuri after the match.

“The two early goals certainly helped and I think play bazaar given the way we were playing, the third goal was just a matter of time.”

Urawa leapfrogged Shimizu S-Pulse into top spot in the standings, although the Shizuoka side remain the only unbeaten team left following their 1-1 draw away at Gamba Osaka on Saturday.

Veteran Gamba midfielder Tomokazu Myojin opened the scoring for the Kansai side at a packed Expo ’70 Stadium in Osaka, however Japan striker Shinji Okazaki equalised with a deflected effort midway through the second half.

Relegated sides Kashiwa Reysol, Oita Trinita and JEF United have all made bright starts to life in the second tier, with Kashiwa looking the team to beat after seven rounds of action.

Brazilian coach Nelsinho’s team are the only unbeaten side left in the division, after the Sun Kings comfortably dispatched of Sagan Tosu 2-0 at Kashiwa Hitachi Stadium in Chiba.

Oita Trinita thumped Thespa Kusatsu 3-1 away from home, however JEF United slumped to a disappointing 2-1 loss in front of more than 7,500 fans at Momotaro Stadium in the west of Japan, as the visitors went down 2-1 away at Fagiano Okayama.

The Shikoku derby finished scoreless – to the disappointment of the 11,115 fans who turned out at Pocari Sweat Stadium – with local rivals Tokushima Vortis and Ehime FC forced to share the spoils in a hard-fought encounter.

Kashiwa Reysol lead the nascent standings from Oita Trinita, with surprise package Roasso Kumamoto currently lying in third place in the table.