Hiroshima drops out of J-League

TOKYO (AP) -- Sanfrecce Hiroshima was relegated Saturday after losing 5-4 in extra time to last-place Consadole Sapporo in the final game of Japan's professional soccer league.

The result means Hiroshima -- whose point tally from the first and second stages was the second lowest in the J-League's first division -- joins already-relegated Sapporo in the second division next season. Sapporo had the fewest total points.

In the day's highest-scoring match, Sapporo took the lead in the 8th minute on midfielder Takafumi Ogura's close range shot, but Hiroshima's Koji Morisaki leveled just three minutes before the half.

Hiroshima then struck twice within six minutes in the opening minutes of the second half through strikers Tatsuhiko Kubo and Hiroto Mogi, only to allow Sapporo to even up the score with goals from Yushi Soda and Shinya Aikawa in the 55th and 74th.

Hiroshima appeared to have bottled up the winner in the 87th minute, when Kenichi Uemura's header off a free kick beat goalkeeper Yohei Sato. But Soda tied it up with his curving shot from the top of the penalty box a minute later.

Soda gave his team the win with a hat-trick goal nine minutes into extra time.

This season's J-League champion, Jubilo Iwata, edged Nagoya Grampus Eight 3-2. Iwata clinched the No. 1 spot last week and captured the championship by sweeping both stages.

Kashiwa Reysol defeated Gamba Osaka 2-0 and Vissel Kobe breezed past Shimizu S-Pulse 3-0. Both victors narrowly avoided relegation.

Vegalta Sendai lost to Tokyo Verdy 1969 3-1 to finish the second stage in second to last place. Sendai stays in the first division because its two-stage total was higher than Hiroshima's.

In other matches, Kyoto Purple Sanga beat JEF United Ichihara 3-2, Yokohama F Marinos shut out Urawa Reds 1-0 and Kashima Antlers prevailed 2-1 over FC Tokyo.

 

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