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Kashima Antlers beat Urawa Reds 2-1 for 8th J-League title

SAITAMA, Japan (AP) - Kashima Antlers earned their eighth J-League title by beating Urawa Reds 2-1 in the second leg of the final on Saturday.

Antlers lost the first leg 1-0 on Tuesday but clinched the title on the away goals rule after the final finished 2-2 on aggregate.

Former Antlers striker Shinzo Koroki put Urawa ahead with a right-footed volley in the seventh minute, and Mu Kanezaki equalized with a header for the visitors five minutes before the break.

Kanezaki sealed the win with 11 minutes remaining when he scored from the penalty spot after Urawa defender Tomoaki Makino took down substitute Yuma Suzuki.

In the regular season, Kashima was third, 15 points behind Urawa. Kashima earned a spot in the final with a 1-0 win at second-place Kawasaki Frontale in the semifinal playoff on Nov. 23.

The J-League title also secured Kashima a place in the Club World Cup in Japan, where it will play Auckland City in a playoff on Thursday.

Kashima Antlers' Mu Kanazaki celebrates after scoring a goal against Urawa Reds in their second leg soccer match of the J-League Championship Final at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, near Tokyo, Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016. Kashima beat Urawa 2-1 to claim their eighth title.(Takumi Sato/Kyodo News via AP) The Associated Press
Kashima Antlers' Mu Kanazaki, left, celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against Urawa Reds in the second half of their second leg soccer match of the J-League Championship Final at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, near Tokyo, Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016. Kashima beat Urawa 2-1 to claim their eighth title. (Takumi Sato/Kyodo News via AP) The Associated Press
Kashima Antlers' Mu Kanazaki (33) scores a goal past Urawa Reds goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa (1) in a penalty shootout in the second half of their second leg soccer match at the J-League Championship Final at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, near Tokyo, Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016. Kashima beat Urawa 2-1 to to claim their eighth title. (Yohei Kanasashi/Kyodo News via AP) The Associated Press
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