Urawa Reds are a win away from capturing their second J. League championship after defeating Yokohama F. Marinos 1-0, thanks to a second-half strike by 19-year-old substitute Takahiro Sekine on Monday.
The victory pushed former Asian champions Reds on to 61 points with three games left, five points ahead of second-place Gamba Osaka. Reds and Gamba clash at Saitama Stadium on Nov. 22 after the upcoming international break.
A win over Gamba will give Urawa its first league title since 2006 and its first silverware of any kind since winning the Asian Champions League in 2007.