Kashima Antlers beat Kawasaki Frontale in extra time 2-1 in the final of the 96th Emperor's Cup All Japan Football Championship on Sunday 1 January at Suita City Football Stadium in Osaka. The team won their fifth title in total and their first in six championships, achieving two titles this year including their triumph in the J.League. Kawasaki F failed to realise their long-cherished wish to earn the title for the first time.

Winning five Emperor's Cups was achieved for the first time in history. With this victory along with the eight titles in the J.League and six in the J.LEAGUE YBC Levain CUP, Kashima hold 19 titles in total, breaking the all-time record.

Although it was Kashima’s 10th game in one month since the semi-final of the J.League Championship on Wednesday 23 November, in which the team had met Kawasaki F previously, the players displayed their solid, tenacious defence along with strong counter-attacks, which led the team to grab second place in the FIFA Club World Cup.

Kawasaki F, on the other hand, aimed to avenge their previous defeat and win their first-ever title. As midfielder NAKAMURA Kengo noted ‘we’ve changed’, the team strung passes together with much better tempo. Both teams played to their strengths and the match turned out to be fiercely competitive.

In the 13th minute, forward OKUBO Yoshito of Kawasaki F cut in to the penalty area and went close to the goal with a chip kick, and forward KOBAYASHI Yu on the receiving end of a well-coordinated direct passes attempted a shot just four minutes later, only for both of them to be saved by goalkeeper SOGAHATA Hitoshi.

After 22 minutes, defender YAMAMOTO Shuto of Kashima, who met a free kick from midfielder OGASAWARA Mitsuo, found defender NISHI Daigo. Although Nishi reacted to it with a low header, the opponents’ defender saved the goal. From 30 minutes onward, Kashima went close to the goal more frequently. Earning a corner kick in the 42nd minute, Yamamoto headed home a much-waited opener. The game went into the second half at 1-0.

However, it was Kawasaki F who took the initiative right after the break. Coming off the bench at half time, midfielder MIYOSHI Koji increased the lateral movements of the ball and created better scoring chances. After 54 minutes, the team initiated an attack from a free kick on the right side of midfield, and Kobayashi received a return-pass from Miyoshi and went past a defender to score an equaliser with his right foot.

KOBAYASHI fired a couple more shots by receiving the ball from midfielder OSHIMA Ryota four minutes later and reacting to a cross from Miyoshi seven minutes later. However, the opponents’ defender and the goalpost prevented him from scoring the go-ahead goal.

Although Kashima also threatened the opponents’ goal with long-distance shots by forward AKASAKI Shuhei and midfielder NAGAKI Ryota, the team could not find the back of the net. Forward SUZUKI Yuma came off the bench in the 67th minute, followed by midfielder Fabricio in the 88th minute, in order to gear up their offence and score goals. However, the scoreline stayed the same and the game went into extra time.

Kashima accelerated their attack from the beginning of extra time. In the 3rd minute, Fabricio fired a shot and moments later Nishi met a corner only to be denied by the crossbar.

However, the scoring came off this unsuccessful attempt at goal. Finding the loose ball after hitting the crossbar, Nishi received a pass from Suzuki and evaded the opposing defenders’ pressure to send in a cross to Fabricio waiting in the centre. He then struck the game-deciding goal into the back of the net, as he later commented ‘I wanted to contribute to the team as this was my last match for Kashima’.

Since Kawasaki F were one goal behind, the team sent midfielder MORIYA Kentaro in the 98th minute and MORIMOTO Takayuki at the beginning of the second half of extra time, looking for an equaliser by changing the players’ positions. However, the team could not score any more and failed to earn the title for the first time in their first appearance in the final.

Match Details (Japanese version only)

As a result, Kashima will participate in the Fuji Xerox Super Cup as the champions of the Emperor's Cup to meet Urawa Red Diamonds, who finished in second place in the J.League, on Saturday 18 February at Nissan Stadium in Yokohama.

Coaches' and Players' Comments

ISHII Masatada, Coach (Kashima Antlers)
It was great to win our fifth title in total and first championship in six years in this prestigious Emperor's Cup. Although we suffered a defeat against Real Madrid in the final of the FIFA Club World Cup, we encouraged ourselves and shifted our mind towards winning the Emperor's Cup to finish the 2016 season. I’m pleased that the players achieved this. We learned a lot from playing extra time in the Club World Cup final against Real Madrid. We could defend solidly and patiently even under pressure, waiting for our scoring opportunity. Having this mind-set, I believe, allowed us to last for the full 120 minutes. The players met my expectations and performed as a united team until the final whistle.

SHIBASAKI Gaku (Kashima Antlers)
We struggled, since Kawasaki performed well. Although the game went into extra time, it was good that we played as a united team. Despite the fact we were all tired due to playing consecutive games, we stayed vocal and encouraged each other by saying ‘keep going just a little longer’. We managed to defend tenaciously until the end, displaying our desire to win the Cup. I’d like to bring this momentum into next season.

OGASAWARA Mitsuo (Kashima Antlers)
Since our original aim of this year was to win games and earn titles, I am very happy to win the Emperor's Cup at the end of the season. I believe we performed well, focusing on winning. The players, the staff, and the supporters all worked together, which is our team’s strength. I will keep up my hard work, so that we can earn more titles next season.

KAZAMA Yahiro, Coach (Kawasaki Frontale)
The players displayed their strong desire to win until the end and created many goal-scoring opportunities. I believe we showcased our playing style. I saw so much growth in the players from the bench. Despite this frustrating defeat, I know we will learn from it for the future. I’m pleased and proud of the players’ achievements more than resenting the actual result.

NAKAMURA Kengo (Kawasaki Frontale)
I believe we could have won the game. We went close to the goal many times from the beginning of the match, and we didn’t let the opponents do much. However, we couldn’t score, and the opponents struck a goal from a set piece, which impacted the match. It was such a shame that we couldn’t press the opponents after levelling the game. A small gap in quality led to a big difference and thus the result. We have to analyse this gap to improve ourselves.

KOBAYASHI Yu (Kawasaki Frontale)
Since the game went into the second half at 1-0, we were determined to level the game, which we did. However, it was my weakness that I couldn’t score any more from the opportunities I had thereafter. As a forward, I felt I need to come through in these critical moments and score a winner.

96th Emperor's Cup All Japan Football Championship

27 August 2016(Sat.) 〜 1 January 2017(Sun.)

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