Former Asian champions Urawa Reds edged out Kashima Antlers 1-0 away in the first match of the two-legged J-League final on Tuesday, moving a step closer to a spot at the prestigious Club World Cup. Following a scoreless first half, midfielder Yuki Abe scored a 57-minute penalty for Urawa after Kashima defender Daigo Nishi fouled striker Shinzo Koroki.
First-stage winners Kashima, who won a one-off game against Kawasaki Frontale last Wednesday to qualify the final, nipped at Urawa's heels following the penalty. But Japan's best-supported side, who secured top spot in the J-League overall standings, fended off a series of shots in style, silencing the crowd of Kashima fans.
"Nothing has been decided yet," Abe said after the game. "It is meaningless if we lose the next game," he said. "We want to wrap up the final with a victory." Urawa will host the final's second leg in Saitama on Saturday. The J-League champion qualifies for December's FIFA Club World Cup, featuring continental champions including Real Madrid and Colombia's Atletico Nacional.
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