HIRATSUKA, Kanagawa Pref. — Nagoya Grampus finally claimed their first-ever J. League title with a 1-0 win over Shonan Bellmare on Saturday as Kashima Antlers' challenge fizzled out with a scoreless draw at Vissel Kobe.
Grampus, one of the league's original 10 members, needed to beat already-relegated Shonan and hope that Kashima could not do the same against Vissel, and a tense opening 45 minutes at Hiratsuka Stadium suggested the burden was weighing heavily on Dragan Stojkovic's side.
But a 66th-minute Keiji Tamada header eventually broke the deadlock with Antlers struggling to keep pace in Kobe, and Stojkovic could not contain his delight as the final whistle confirmed the success that had eluded him throughout his long association with the club.