Shonan Bellmare clinched the 2017 MEIJI YASUDA J2 League title after their 1-1 draw with Fagiano Okayama on Sunday in the league’s 39th round.

Dinei’s goal put the BMW Stadium residents ahead 1-0 in the 44th minute, but former midfielder Yohei Otaka equalised for Fagiano in the 86th. 

The result still gave Bellmare their 81st point, enough to open a 10-point gap above second place with just three rounds left thus seeing the prize of winning the second tier their way.

After Avispa Fukuoka suffered a 0-0 draw at Tokyo Verdy on Saturday, it was V-Varen Nagasaki who ended the weekend in the second automatic promotion spot after Daichi Tagami and Yuki Kagawa scored in their 2-0 win at Roasso Kumamoto.

Avispa slipped further back into fourth place by Sunday night after a wet and wild affair between Nagoya Grampus and Thespa Kusatsu Gunma ended in a 4-2 win for the home side. 

After briefly falling behind 2-1 in the 55th minute, Grampus drew even through Keiji Tamada’s goal before winning through Taishi Taguchi and Ryota Aoki’s efforts in the last five minutes of the match.

Matsumoto Yamaga’s 2-1 home win against FC Gifu let them re-enter the play-off zone in fifth place with 64 points, leading Verdy on goal difference.

New manager Edson could not give Yokohama FC their first win in five matches as they drew 2-2 at Kyoto Sanga, dealing a blow to their playoff hopes.

The 40th round of the J2 campaign will take place on Sunday, November 5.