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J-League first-division leaders Machida Zelvia extended their unbeaten run to six games with a hard-fought 1-0 derby win over Tokyo Verdy on Sunday. A sixth-minute own goal by Verdy captain Hiroto Taniguchi proved the difference between the two promoted teams at Ajinomoto Stadium, where the 10th-place hosts looked the more threatening for much of the contest. Machida went ahead when Junya Suzuki’s ball for danger man Shota Fujio took a deflection into the net off Taniguchi’s leg as he closely marked the visitors’ top scorer. Zelvia keeper Kosei Tani capped a standout performance when he preser…

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