J.League: Vissel Kobe secure first league title with victory over Nagoya

Takayuki Yoshida's Vissel Kobe won the J.League title for the first time in the club's history on Saturday, thanks to two goals in three first-half minutes.

The win at Kobe Stadium moves Vissel four points clear of last year's champions Yokohama F Marinos, who were held to a 0-0 draw by Albirex Niigata on Friday.

Haruya Ide and Yoshinori Muto scored in the 12th and 14th minutes, respectively, to put Kobe up by two goals, before Kasper Junker pulled one back for Nagoya shortly after the half-hour mark.

Kobe knew that a win would give the club its first title in the J.League's 30-year history, and Ide put his team ahead by clipping Yuya Osako's through ball past Mitch Langerak via the inside of the Australian goalkeeper's left post.

Muto doubled the lead two minutes later when Osako opened up the visiting defense again, this time crossing from the left to the former Newcastle United forward, who scored with a side-footed side-footed from six yards out.

Daiju Sasaki fired wide for Kobe before Junker reduced Nagoya's deficit by latching on to Haruya Fujii's headed ball forward and flicking his shot past Daiya Maekawa.

Nagoya, who needed to win to keep their hopes of finishing in the top three and qualifying for next year's Asian Champions League alive, pushed for an equalizer several times.

Naoki Maeda came win the title. closest to tying game when he hit crossbar from close range with 14 minutes remaining, but Kobe held on to seal the title.

SportsLigue