For Shimizu S-Pulse, Tuesday's Emperor's Cup final was a chance to make it third-time lucky after losing two finals in the past three years. For Cerezo Osaka, it was a chance to finish off a miserable season with a trophy and the opportunity to start the year with a boost as the team attempts to return to the J. League's first division following relegation last year.
Regretably for Cerezo, their season of misery continued. Despite fighting back from a 2-0 deficit with a spirited rally in the second half, Cerezo blew their last chance of glory this season as Baron scored eight minutes into sudden-death extra time to secure the trophy for S-Pulse for the first time.
But it was no walk in the park for the team from Shizuoka, which lost last year to the Kashima Antlers and three years ago to the Yokohama Flugels. Despite scoring in each half -- through Alex and Ryuzo Morioka -- to take a 2-0 lead, Cerezo was never out of the game, and goals by Hiroaki Morishima and Yoon Jong Hwan made sure the first game of 2002 and the last of the 2001 season was a nail-biting one.