Urawa Reds as good as wrapped up the J. League first-stage title but were forced to leave the champagne on ice after beating Shimizu S-Pulse 1-0 on Sunday.
Reds went into the game knowing that a win over lowly S-Pulse coupled with a defeat for second-place Gamba Osaka would see them clinch their first piece of silverware since winning the Asian Champions League title in 2007.
A 52nd-minute goal from Shinzo Koroki kept up Urawa's side of the bargain, but a 0-0 draw between Gamba and Vissel Kobe forced the 44,424 crowd at Saitama Stadium to postpone their celebrations for another day.
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