Ed Odeven 
Vissel Kobe players celebrate after winning their second consecutive J.League season title on December 8 at Kobe's Noevir Stadium. (©KYODO)
Read the full story on SportsLook - [ODDS and EVENS] Vissel Kobe Maintained Hunger for Another Title and Fulfilled Their Goal
When a team wins one championship, it may be considered a lucky accomplishment. But if a team defends its title, it's hard to convince people that it was a fluke. And that's certainly the case with Vissel Kobe.
The Kansai-based squad captured its second consecutive J.League title on the final day of the 2024 season at home by beating Shonan Bellmare 3-0 on Sunday, December 8.
Vissel manager Takayuki Yoshida's squad finished the campaign with 21 wins, nine draws and eight defeats (72 points), placing four points ahead of second-place Sanfrecce Hiroshima and another two in front of third-place FC Machida Zelvia.
Not to be overlooked, Vissel also triumphed in the Emperor's Cup final, defeating Gamba Osaka 1-0 on November 23 at Tokyo's National Stadium.
"We've won two titles and we're progressing well in the Asian Champions League," Yoshida said, according to Agence France-Presse in the euphoric afterglow of Vissel's season finale. "I appreciate the hard work of everyone in the team, all the players and staff."
Mission Accomplished for Vissel Kobe
Entering the final day of the season, the reigning J.League champions from Kobe held a one-point advantage over Sanfrecce, who sat in second place.
Sunday's results didn't change that.
Gamba prevailed 3-1 over visiting Sanfrecce, and Machida, unable to leapfrog past Gamba, had to settle for third after dropping a 3-1 away decision to the Kashima Antlers.
There was no magic formula for Vissel to win another title. Consistent, quality play and hard work were trademarks of the team's 2024 campaign.
"We've given 100 percent each game and that got us to where we are now," veteran striker Yoshinori Muto was quoted as saying by Kyodo News on Sunday at Noevir Stadium, where a spirited crowd of 27,444 spectators witnessed Vissel's title-winning exploits. "I had tough moments but never compromised on anything. [And] I believe this is the result of dedicating everything to football, so I'm really happy."
A season earlier, Yoshida's men built a bit of a cushion separating themselves and other title-chasing clubs at the top of the J.League table. In 2023, Vissel finished with 21 wins, eight draws and five losses (71 points), seven points better than Yokohama F Marinos
Continue reading the full story on SportsLook.
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Author: Ed Odeven
Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.
