After mostly exorcising their reputation as ¡°silver collectors¡± by claiming two straight J. League first division titles, Kawasaki Frontale have at last fully shed that reputation by claiming the Levain Cup in their fifth attempt.
Although Frontale¡¯s hopes of becoming the second club to achieve a league three-peat are all but extinguished, its fans will surely be satisfied in a third straight season with a major title ¡ª the kind of success long anticipated during the team¡¯s never-ending string of runner-up finishes.
While the club¡¯s focus will now turn to filling the biggest gaps in the trophy case at Todoroki, namely the elusive Emperor¡¯s Cup and Asian Champions League, Kawasaki will unfortunately be denied a chance at an intercontinental title contested by every J. League Cup winner since 2008.
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