Omiya Ardija set a new J.League record for consecutive unbeaten games in the sweetest way possible on Saturday, beating fierce local rivals Urawa Reds 1-0 to extend their streak to 18.
Omiya headed into the game at Nack 5 Stadium tied with Kashima Antlers' 2009 mark having last tasted league defeat on Aug. 25 last season, but there was more than just history at stake with second-place Reds leading their high-flying neighbors by only one position in the table.
The most eagerly anticipated Saitama derby of recent times may not have lived up to the hype, but no one on the orange half of the divide was complaining after the final whistle. Zlatan Ljubijankic's first-half injury-time goal was enough to give Omiya the three points, delivering a rare slice of glory for a modest club still waiting to lift its first major trophy.
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