J-League champions Kashima Antlers completed a Japanese soccer double yesterday when they defeated relegation-bound Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2-0 to win the Emperor's Cup.
It was Kashima's third cup final success since the professional league was inaugurated in 1993, following victories in 1997 and 2000.
"I was appointed as the coach in order to win the title. We won the J-League last month and now added another," Kashima's Brazilian coach Oswaldo Oliveira said.
"This is the end of the season and the beginning of the new season at the same time. I'd like to thank everybody that we were able to finish the season on a winning note," he said.
"It is not the result of today's match, it was the result of what we have worked hard for throughout the season. That's why we won today," Oliveira said.
"I'm very grateful to the players," Oliveira told NHK Television in Japan. "This win is a tribute to the terrific spirit they have."
Kashima took only eight minutes to open the scoring when Brazilian forward Marquinhos passed to defender Atsuto Uchida to strike home, watched by a New Year's Day crowd of 46,000 at Tokyo's National Stadium.
Hiroshima tried hard to hit back, but Kashima killed the game off with an injury-time counter-attack, substitute Atsushi Yanagisawa sending in a cross for Brazilian midfielder Danilo to score from the left.
"It was really a long season and I'm very happy that we finished like this. As for my goal, I tried to send a pass to Yuzo [Tashiro], but he was severely checked, so I hit a shot. It happened to go in," Uchida said.
Kashima have won the J-League five times, in 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001 and last year.
For Hiroshima it was their fourth losing final since the J-League started, after disappointments in 1995, 1996 and 1999. Defeat in Japan's traditional season closer compounded Hiroshima's misery following their relegation from the top flight.
Midfielder Koji Morisaki came closest for Hiroshima with a dipping effort, but they rarely threatened to spring an upset, or bring any festive cheer to their shivering supporters.
Kashima won their fifth J-League championship in dramatic circumstances last month, snatching the title from Urawa Reds on the final day of the season after erasing a 10-point deficit.
Uchida's goal gave Kashima their first Emperor's Cup title since 2000, when they became the first team to win the J-League, Emperor's Cup and J-League Cup treble.
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