J-League wrap: Grampus still celebrating title

J-League champions Nagoya Grampus continued to celebrate their championship victory with a 2-1 away win at Jubilo Iwata on Saturday.

Yoshizumi Ogawa and Keiji Tamada got the top side off to an ideal start with 11th and 16th minute goals, but a late response from Ryoichi Maeda less than 10 minutes from time breathed life into the contest.

But Nagoya hung on to secure win number 22 from 33 league games, while Jubilo are nine points above the relegation zone in 11th place with one game left.

Kawasaki Frontale all but gave up their chance to claim the final Asian Champions League place on offer in the Japanese top flight, in a 1-1 draw with Urawa Reds.

Takuro Yajima scored in the second minute to give the hosts a flying start at Kawasaki Todoroki Stadium, but Frontale dropped two points when Sergio Escudero equalised for Reds in the 75th minute.

Kawasaki are three points behind third-placed Kashima Antlers, and sides above them have a game in hand, which all but spells their ACL chances this season extinct.

Yokohama F Marinos upset second-placed Gamba Osaka 2-0, ruining their plans to guarantee their ACL spot on Saturday.

Gamba could have sewed up their Champions League spot with the three points, but will leave their position in limbo until the final day of the league, after Shunsuke Nakamura and Kazuma Watanabe scored first-half goals in the victory for Yokohama.

Gamba will likely need to win at Shimizu S-Pulse next Saturday, should city rivals Cerezo Osaka, as well as Kashima Antlers, win their remaining two fixtures.

Tokyo effectively sealed their spot in the Japanese top flight for next season with a 1-1 draw against Montedio Yamagata.

Sitting in 15th place, and just goal difference above the now relegation destined Vissel Kobe, Tokyo needed points to boost their hopes of survival this season, and the draw gave them a one-point buffer above the drop zone with one game remaining in the season.

Vissel Kobe’s 1-0 win over Shimizu S-Pulse kept alive their faint hopes of climbing above Tokyo earlier on Saturday.

But the 16th-placed Vissel Kobe must win on the final day of the season against the Urawa Reds next Saturday, while Tokyo must lose or draw to the relegated Kyoto Sanga, if they are to survive in the J-League for next season.

Omiya Ardija and Albirex Niigata drew 2-2, while Sanfrecce Hiroshima stole a late 1-0 win over Vegalta Sendai, courtesy of Junya Osaki’s 90th-minute goal.