The big story, of course, this week, was the death of Naoki Matsuda aged just 34 … this, understandably was on everyone’s mind this week. See the JSoccer.com tribute elsewhere on this site.There was a moment of silence before every game today, of course, and On the Reysol bench was Masami Ihara, long-term defensive partner of Matsuda and now a coach at Kashiwa. Leandro Domingues opened the scoring for Kashiwa Reysol early on in the battle for the top spot against Yokohama F.Marinos. The Reysol no.10 then set up his compatriot Jorge Wagner for the second Reysol goal in the 2nd half. Shunsuke Nakamura hit a post with a curling free kick late on but Reysol took the points.In Saitama, Vissel Kobe took a 2-0 1st half lead through a brace from Takayuki Yoshida – dedicating each goal to his ex-team mate Matsuda by holding his three fingers in the air, signifying Matsuda’s number for Marinos. Mazolla and Tatsuya Tanaka came on for the 2nd half and each scored a goal to bring the game level before a rash Marcio Richardes tackle took down Hideo Tanaka, as he was about to unleash the shot, for a PK, which Yoshito Okubo duly converted, VERY coolly, a-la-Endo, for a very important three points for Vissel.Ventforet entertained Sanfrecce Hiroshima, hoping for the points to pull them out of the danger zone, while Sanfrecce were hoping to stay in touch at the top. Tadanari Lee conveyed a PK that he had earned himself to open the scoring for the away team and Hisato Sato lobbed the keeper from the edge of the area to take the points for Sanfrecce, 2-0.Cerezo Osaka visited Kawasaki Frontale and Kiyotake nudged home a near post corner, before sending a superb through ball for Kurata to make it 2-0 before half time. Frontale pulled a goal back through Noborizato. But the points went to Cerezo.Nozawa opened the scoring for Kashima Antlers from a trademark free kick, before Osaka made it 2-0 with a pointblank prod home from an Endo low cross. Ota pulled one back for the away team before Araiiba twisted and turned as he cut in from the left and made it 3-1 with a shot across the keeper and into the corner, giving Antlers a confidence-boosting three points.Albirex Niigata annihilated visitors Shimizu S-Pulse, although three of their four goals came in the last 30 minutes. Michel got a couple for the winning Orange!