Urawa Reds drew 1-1 with Kawasaki Frontale on Saturday to give Sanfrecce Hiroshima one hand on the J. League overall points title with one game of the regular season remaining.
Shinzo Koroki scored in the 28th minute at Saitama Stadium to give Reds — who began the day level on points with league-leaders Sanfrecce but with a goal difference 10 goals inferior — hope of claiming the direct ticket to the championship game that comes with finishing top of the league.
But a Frontale equalizer from Kentaro Moriya a minute before halftime — coupled with a 2-0 win for Sanfrecce over Gamba Osaka — left Urawa facing the prospect of a playoff against the league's third-place team — currently FC Tokyo — for the right to play Sanfrecce in the final.