Kashima Antlers moved within sight of a record-extending ninth J. League top-flight title on Sunday but Kashiwa Reysol ensured the championship race would go down to the final day.
Antlers beat Tokyo Verdy 1-0 but Reysol stayed one point behind them in the table after a 3-1 win over the league¡¯s bottom side, Albirex Niigata.
Antlers can wrap up their first title since 2016 when they host Yokohama F. Marinos next Saturday but any slip-up could hand Reysol their second J. League crown.
¡°We just have to keep doing the things we¡¯ve been doing and don¡¯t change anything,¡± said Antlers coach Toru Oniki, who joined the club at the start of the year after winning four league titles with Kawasaki Frontale.
¡°It¡¯s because of the hard work that we¡¯ve done that we¡¯re in this position.¡±
Antlers needed a 74th-minute goal from Yuta Matsumura to stay on top of the table, with Reysol cruising against already relegated Niigata.
Japan international Mao Hosoya scored a hat trick for Reysol, who are looking for their first title since 2011.
They host Machida Zelvia, who won Japan¡¯s domestic cup for the first time last weekend, on the final day of the season.
Antlers started their game strongly but soon began to struggle as mid-table Verdy went close with a series of chances.
¡°It was a game with an unseen pressure which the players felt,¡± said Oniki.
¡°But they didn¡¯t panic, did what they were supposed to do and got the goal in the end.¡±
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