TOKYO: Australian supervisor Kevin Muscat mentioned it felt “just a little bit surreal” after main Yokohama F Marinos to the J-League name in Japan on Saturday after a nervy finish to the season. Marinos lifted the trophy after a 3-1 win away to Vissel Kobe at the ultimate day, clinching the name two issues forward of protecting champions Kawasaki Frontale, who beat FC Tokyo 3-2. Muscat follows within the footsteps of present Celtic supervisor and Australian compatriot Ange Postecoglou, who led Marinos to the name in 2019.
“At the present time it’s just a bit bit surreal,” mentioned former midfield hard-man Muscat, who joined Marinos in summer season 2021 when Postecoglou left to take over at Celtic Park. “I’m simply in reality proud, I feel if there’s an overriding emotion it’s pleasure. No longer simply the outcome lately however the best way we performed made me in reality proud.” Marinos squandered a number of probabilities to wrap up the name over the general weeks of the season and noticed their eight-point lead decreased to only two as Kawasaki saved up the force.
Marinos took the lead in opposition to Kobe thru Elber however the house facet, who began with former Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta at the bench, equalized in first-half damage time. Takuma Nishimura edged Marinos again in entrance within the 53rd minute earlier than Teruhito Nakagawa added any other for insurance coverage 20 mins later. Kawasaki took an early lead in opposition to Tokyo however then had goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong despatched off for a wild problem within the twenty ninth minute.
Kawasaki, who had gained the name in 4 of the former 5 seasons, went on to assert the win but it surely was once now not sufficient to catch Marinos. “There’s emotion, after all, and that’s why the sport is so nice,” mentioned Muscat, who controlled Melbourne Victory to 2 A-League titles in his local Australia. “We’ve been that specialize in growing moments, and lately the instant we created additionally created historical past. Those guys will move down in historical past as one workforce that gained the trophy for Marinos.”— AFP