Sanfrecce Hiroshima claimed their third J. League title in four years with a 4-3 aggregate win over Gamba Osaka after a 1-1 draw in the second leg of the championship final on Saturday night.
Sanfrecce went into the match at Edion Stadium protecting a 3-2 lead from Wednesday's first leg — courtesy of two injury-time goals — but Gamba midfielder Yasuyuki Konno struck in the 27th minute to leave the championship resting on a knife-edge.
One more goal for Gamba would have seen the defending champions retain their title, but instead Sanfrecce substitute Takuma Asano headed home a 76th-minute equalizer to return the trophy to Hiroshima after a year's absence.