Cerezo Osaka sealed their return to Japanese soccer's top flight Sunday after defeating Fagiano Okayama 1-0 in the J. League promotion playoff final.

Shohei Kiyohara got the winner at a pouring-wet Kincho Stadium, scrambling home from a meter out in the 52nd minute after a corner from the right hit Okayama's veteran defender Daiki Iwamasa and sneaked through the legs of keeper Hirotsugu Nakabayashi into his path.

Cerezo, who went down to J2 in 2014 despite boasting 2010 World Cup top scorer Diego Forlan and Japan international Yoichiro Kakitani, made it past the playoff semifinals in a draw with lower-ranked Kyoto Sanga and needed a win or a draw at their home ground in the final on the basis of the J2 standings.