Kashima Antlers take J.League title

Kashima Antlers earned their J.League title by beating Urawa Reds 2-1 in the second leg of the final on Saturday.

Antlers lost the first leg 1-0 on Tuesday but clinched the title on the away goals rule after the final finished 2-2 on aggregate.

Shinzo Koroki put Urawa ahead with a right-footed volley in the seventh minute before Mu Kanezaki equalised with a header for the visitors five minutes before the break.

Kanezaki sealed the win with 11 minutes remaining when he scored from the penalty spot after Urawa defender Tomoaki Makino took down substitute Yuma Suzuki.

In the regular season, Kashima was third, 15 points behind Urawa.

The result also secured Kashima a place in the club World Cup in Japan next week.