Oita Trinita forced Kawasaki Frontale to postpone their title celebrations on Saturday, beating the runaway J. League first division leaders 1-0 after their captain, Shogo Taniguchi, was sent off in the 34th minute.
Taniguchi earned a straight red after pulling down Trinita midfielder Naoki Nomura, who converted the subsequent penalty kick at Oita's Showa Denko Dome.
A win would have clinched a third J1 crown in four seasons for Toru Oniki's men, who won back-to-back championships in 2017 and 2018. They could still claim the silverware this round if second-place Gamba Osaka lose or draw in their match with the Urawa Reds at Saitama Stadium on Sunday.