Before kick-off, three teams – namely Kashiwa Reysol, Nagoya Grampus Eight and Gamba Osaka – were separated by just three points, and that was the way things ended as all three teams won away from home.
Kashiwa Reysol, managed by Brazilian Nelsinho Baptista, sealed the incredible feat of back-to-back championships, having been promoted to the J.League at the end of last season. They secured the J.League title with a 3-1 away win against Urawa Red Diamonds.
They will now meet New Zealand side Auckland City in the opening FIFA Club World Cup match on December 8.
City warmed up for the clash with a 2-1 win over Ryutsu Keizai University at Saitama Stadium in Tokyo last night.
A tidy finish by Luis Corrales on 27 minutes and a second by Adam McGeorge seven minutes later gave Auckland a comfortable 2-0 halftime lead in five degree Celsius conditions.
Auckland survived a tense finish when Ryutsu substitute Jyosyua scored from what appeared to be an offside position just before the hour mark.
The visitors then missed the chance to restore their two-goal cushion after Daniel Koprivcic smashed a penalty against the Ryutsu Keizai upright with ten minutes left.
“The result is not important but the performance was and we got some answers out of the game,” coach Ramon Tribulietx said.
“That’s what we were looking for. Everyone showed they can compete at this level and that we can take this forward to December 8.”

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