KASHIWA, Chiba Pref. — Shimizu S-Pulse manager Kenta Hasegawa conceded defeat in the J. League title race after Sunday's 5-0 loss to Kashiwa Reysol, and admits his previously league-leading side will struggle to secure a berth in the Asian Champions League if it continues its wretched form.
S-Pulse put together a 12-game unbeaten run to claim top spot at the beginning of last month, but Sunday's astonishing collapse marked the club's third straight defeat and left it trailing leaders Kawasaki Frontale by eight points with three games left.
Wins for top-three Frontale, Kashima Antlers and Gamba Osaka also leaves S-Pulse four points behind third-place Gamba and a slot in next year's ACL, and Hasegawa acknowledged his team will have to get its act together if it wants to capitalize on the strides it has made this season.