Urawa Reds finally put an end to years of frustration for their success-hungry supporters on Saturday as they captured their first-ever J. League stage title by winning the second stage despite a 2-1 defeat to nine-man Nagoya Grampus Eight.
Urawa Reds foreard Emerson takes a shot on goal in the first half of Saturday's J.League match at Komaba Stadium.
Grampus Eight won 2-1, but the Reds still the clinched second-
stage title.
Urawa claimed the title after Gamba Osaka, the only team with a mathematical chance of overtaking Guido Buchwald's men, went down 2-0 at home to Yokohama F. Marinos.
The Saitama club has an unassailable seven-point lead at the top of the standings with 31 points and two games in the second stage remaining.