J League results - 3 December - The Season is Over

At the start of the day, five teams had a shot at the trophy. Four of them would end up with a win while one team saw their victory slip away in the final minutes of play.

The five teams were Cerezo Osaka, Gamba Osaka, Urawa Reds, Kashima Antlers and JEF United. If Cerezo won against FC Tokyo, they got the championship. And that is exactly what it looked like was going to happen.

In just the third minute they were up by a goal. Tokyo responded in the 20th to tie it back up. Cerezo was awarded a penalty kick in the 38th, but the keeper was able to make the stop. Just after the break, Cerezo scored a second and that is where the game stood going into the final moments. The home side supporters was going crazy thinking that they were about to see their club take it all, but fate has this way of laughing at sports fans that celebrate early. From a crowded box, Tokyo's Yasayuki Konno ripped a shot into goal to tie the match at 2. A few moments later, the final whistle blew.

The Gamba fans that made the trip to Kawasaki erupted with joy when hearing of the goal. Their side had just won their only their second match in seven games. These 3 points gave them the league.

In the other matches, Urawa had a very impressive 4-0 win over Albirex Niigata to reach second place for the second year in a row. Kashima Antlers also won by four while JEF United eked out a 2-1 victory against Nagoya Grampus Eight.

The top five look like this:
Pos - Team - Pts
1 Gamba Osaka 60
2 Urawa Reds 59
3 Kashima Antlers 59
4 JEF United 59
5 Cerezo Osaka 59

Due to goal difference, Cerezo drop from first to fifth.

Here is the rest of the table:
Pos - Team - Pts
6 Jubilo Iwata 51
7 Sanfrecce Hiroshima 50
8 Kawasaki Frontale 50
9 Yokohama F･Marinos 48
10 F.C.Tokyo 47 34

11 Oita Trinita 43
12 Albirex Niigata 42
13 Omiya Ardija 41
14 Nagoya Grampus Eight 39
15 Shimizu S-Pulse 39

16 Kashiwa Reysol 35 34
17 Tokyo Verdy 1969 30
18 Vissel Kobe 21