Defending J. League champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima retained their title as Yokohama F. Marinos suffered a final-day meltdown with a 1-0 loss to Kawasaki Frontale on Saturday.
Marinos, who began the day two points clear at the top of the table, needed a win to guarantee themselves a first championship since 2004, but a 54th-minute goal from Frontale forward Renato tore up the script at Todoroki Stadium.
Sanfrecce also needed to beat Kashima Antlers away from home to stand any chance of claiming the title, and goals either side of halftime from Naoki Ishihara kept up their end of the bargain with a 2-0 victory over a Kashima side that was reduced to 10 men when striker Yuya Osako was sent off on the stroke of halftime.
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