Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Saitama: Kashiwa Reysol became the first team to win the J.League title in the year following promotion from the second division when they defeated 2007 AFC Champions League winners Urawa Reds 3-1 as the 2011 season reached its climax.
Brazilian midfielder Jorge Wagner opened the scoring in the 29th minute, firing home the rebound after his compatriot Leandro Domingues hit the post, before Wataru Hashimoto doubled Kashiwa's lead with a 38th minute overhead kick.
Yosuke Kashiwagi pulled one back for Urawa six minutes into the second-half only for Akimi Barada to restore Kashiwa's two-goal cushion with the winning goal in the 76th minute, which, like Hashimoto's earlier strike, was his first of the season.
"It was my first goal in league matches and I never thought I would score one in the final title-deciding game," said a jubilant Hashimoto.
"When Urawa pulled one back to trail us by one goal, the atmosphere at the stadium turned terrible but we tried to stay patient as visitors and that led to Barada's goal."
Barada said: "My first goal of the season turned out to be a really precious goal. It makes me shed tears of joy. The bench, staff and company have worked together as one and that's the key to our victory."
Kashiwa's victory saw them top the table with 72 points, one more than former champions Nagoya Grampus who rounded off their campaign with a 1-0 away win over Albirex Niigata, and two clear of Gamba Osaka, with the 2008 ACL champions bringing the curtain down on their season with a 3-1 triumph over Shimizu S-Pulse.
Kashiwa, Nagoya, Gamba and the yet-to-be-determined winners of the Emperor's Cup, will be Japan's representatives in the 2012 AFC Champions League and the top three J.League finishers will find out the group stage fate in next year's edition of Asia's premier club competition at the official draw which will place at AFC House in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, December 6.