Gamba Osaka J.League Champions
Gamba Osaka secured the tighest ever J.league championship race with a 4-2 win away to Kawasaki Frontale. Cross-town rivals Cerezo Osaka failed to gained the win that would have seen them crowned champions when they were held at home to a 2-2 draw by FC Tokyo.
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| Gamba Osaka fans have something to shout about at last (c) Soccerphile |
Attention was focused on Osaka's Nagai Stadium where an expectant 43,927 crowd - the largest since the 2002 World Cup - awaited the win that would have marked Cerezo's transformation from last season's relegation threatened team to this year's winners. An 89th minute goal by FC Tokyo's Yasuyuki Konno rained on Cerezo's parade handing the title to Gamba with J.League-leading scorer Araujo netting his 33rd of the campaign.
Gamba fly the flag for Kansai football (c) Soccerphile
Gamba is the first team from the Kansai area of western Japan to land the J.League title since the championship began in 1993.
J.League 2004-2005 Final Standings
Gamba Osaka P34 Pts 60 (Champions)
Urawa Reds P34 Pts 59
Kashima Antlers P34 Pts 59
JEF United P34 Pts 59
Cerezo Osaka P34 Pts 59
Jubilo Iwate P34 Pts 51
Sanfrecce Hiroshima P34 Pts 50
Kawasaki Frontale P34 Pts 50
Yokohama F Marinos P34 Pts 48
FC Tokyo P34 Pts 47
Oita Trinita P34 Pts 43
Albirex Niigata P34 Pts 42
Ardija Omiya P34 Pts 41
Nagoya Grampus Eight P34 Pts 39
Shimizu S-Pulse P34 Pts 39
Kashiwa Reysol P34 Pts 35#
Tokyo Verdy P34 Pts 30*
Vissel Kobe P34 Pts 21*
*relegated; #relegation/promotion play-off
Results
Kashiwa Antlers 4 Kashiwa Reysol 0
Ardija Omiya 1 Yokohama F Marinos 1
JEF United 2 Nagoya Grampus Eight 1
Tokyo Verdy 4 Oita Trinita 2
Kawasaki Frontale 2 Gamba Osaka 4
Albirex Niigata 0 Urawa Reds 4
Jubilo Iwate 1 Vissel Kobe 0
Cerezo Osaka 2 FC Tokyo 2
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 3 Shimizu S-Pulse 1
J.2
Ventforet's come-from-behind 2-1 win at champions Kyoto Purple Sanga secured the team from Kofu third place and a play-off spot against Kashiwa Reysol, who finished third-from-last in J.1.
J.2 2004-2005 Final Standings
Kyoto Purple Sanga* P44 Pts 97
Avispa Fukuoka* P44 Pts 78
Ventforet Kofu# P44 Pts 69
Vegalta Sendai P44 Pts 68
Montedio Yamagata P44 Pts 64
Consadole Sapporo P44 Pts 63
Bellmare Shonan P44 Pts 54
Sagan Tosu P44 Pts 52
Vortis Tokushima P44 Pts 52
Hollyhock Mito P44 Pts 52
Yokohama FC P44 Pts 45
Thespa Kusatsu P44 Pts 23
*promoted; #relegation/promotion play-off
Results
Consadole Sapporo 2 Thespa Kusatsu 1
Montedio Yamagata 1 Sagan Tosu 0
Yokohama FC 1 Bellmare Shonan 4
Kyoto Purple Sanga 1 Ventforet Kofu 2
Vortis Tokushima 0 Hollyhock Mito 1
Avispa Fukuoka 1 Vegalta Sendai
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