Japan
January 2009
Mike Plastow looks back at the climax to the season in Japan.
Kashima Antlers proved last season’s smash-and-grab triumph in the J.League was no fluke by winning their second title in a row.
It was a close title race – only three points separated the top six clubs with three games to go – but Antlers held on to top place for the final two months to claim a sixth championship in the league’s 16-year history. Read more
Previous Dispatches from Japan
December 2008
So, Gamba Osaka are the champions of Asia. They have not been champions of Japan since 2005 and would not even qualify for the 2009 tournament on this year’s league form, but what a convincing triumph!
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