Kawasaki Frontale were crowned 2018 MEIJI YASUDA J1 League champions on goal difference, their 5-0 win over Omiya Ardija seeing them beat Kashima Antlers to the crown.

Yu Kobayashi bagged a hat-trick to see them to three points - moving them even at the summit with Antlers following their 0-0 draw at Jubilo Iwata, but far ahead on goal difference.

Toru Oniki therefore leads Frontale to their first ever J1 League title at the expense of outgoing champions Antlers, who did not manage to find the breakthrough against Jubilo.

Frontale, led by this season’s top scorer Kobayashi, will represent Japan alongside Antlers and Cerezo Osaka in the AFC Champions League.

At the other end of the table, Ventforet Kofu endured heartbreak, being relegated alongside Ardija and Albirex Niigata despite beating Vegalta Sendai 1-0.