The setup was perfect: The last day of the J. League's second stage, a beautiful autumn day at a sold-out National Stadium in Tokyo, the top team against the second-placed team with the latter needing a win to clinch the stage.

Unfortunately, the game didn't deliver and the Kashima Antlers wrapped up the title Sunday with a disappointing 0-0 extra-time draw against Kashiwa Reysol.

Chances were few and far between as Kashima showed once again that it is the best team in Japan at controlling a game. Meanwhile, Reysol was terribly disappointing.