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No. 3 Kashima Antlers win J-League championship
TOKYO (AP) -- The Kashima Antlers defeated the Yokohama F. Marinos 3-0 Saturday for the club's third championship in Japan's 16-team professional soccer J-League Division One. Playing before 45,000 fans at Tokyo National Stadium, Kashima led 3-0 at halftime in the last of the two-leg championship series. In the first match of the series last Saturday, the two top teams fought to a scoreless draw. The Antlers, coached by Brazil's Toninho Cerezo and spearheaded by Brazilians Fabiano and Bismarck, started aggressively Saturday and dominated the play in the first half, scoring in the 24th, 39th and 44th minutes. The first goal came when Takayuki Suzuki raced down the left side, sent a through pass to Atsushi Yanagisawa who returned the ball for Suzuki to slam home past goalie Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi. Fifteen minutes later, Yutaka Akita provided a perfect cross from the left side to Akira Narahashi, who blasted into a corner of the net from close range. Shortly before the interval, Koji Nakahata struck a ball from the left flank that sailed into the net. Kawaguchi, outpositioned during a goalmouth melee, attempted but was unable to deflect the ball over the bar. "We were lucky we could take advantage of the opportunities in the first half," said a jubilant Cerezo. "It was a very close contest, and I'm glad we won the big title." In the second half, the Marinos took control and unleashed a wave of all-out assaults with most of the action coming in front of the Antlers goal. But the Marinos were unable to score with their opponents tightening their defense. Mitsuo Ogasawara was named the game's most valuable player for his performances in providing the midfield muscle for the Antlers. The Antlers outshot the Marinos 16-6. Kashima Antlers first won the championship in 1996, the fourth year of the league, and again in 1998. The Marinos won the 15-game first stage this year, and the Antlers took the second-stage title, also in 15 matches. The Marinos were seeking their second championship, after winning in 1995. Lineups: Kashima Antlers - Daijiro Takakuwa, Akira Narahashi, Yutaka Akita, Fabiano, Naoki Soma (Yasuto Honda, 89th), Koji Kumagai, Mitsuo Ogasawara, Bismarck, Atsushi Yanagisawa (Masashi Motoyama, 89th), Takayuki Suzuki (Kenji Haneda, 82nd). Yokohama F. Marinos - Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi, Norio Omura, Maoki Matsuda, Yasuhiro Hato, Ryosuke Kijima (Kunio Nagayama, 36th), Yoshiharu Ueno, Akihiro Endo, Atsuhiro Miura (Shoji Jo, 62nd), Syunsuke Nakamura, Edmilson (Daisuke Tonoike, 70th), Yoo Sang-chul.
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