Fernando Torres has a history of scoring important goals and he added another to his collection today, saving Sagan Tosu from relegation to the second tier of Japanese football with a 78th minute.
With the score at 1-1 against Yokohama F Marinos after Mu Kanazaki levelled matters from the spot seven minutes earlier, the ball made its way to the former Liverpool, Chelsea and Atletico Madrid striker outside the box and he came up with an emphatic finish to spark some brilliant scenes.
Advert
Tosu have been in and out of the relegation zone this season but the crucial victory in the penultimate game of the season got them to 40 points and saves them from automatic relegation to the J-League 2.
Torres' winner condemned Kashiwa Reysol to football in the second tier next season with one game to spare despite them beating Cerezo Osaka 3-0.
Advert
Tosu are 15th in the league and victory over Kashima Antlers on the final day could potentially see them finish as high as 11th. However, because of the J-League format, there is still a way for Tosu to end up suffering demotion.
If Nagoya beat Shonan Bellmare and they lose to Kashima on the final day, Tosu will end up in the relegation play-off against the team who finishes third in the J-League 2 and whoever wins that will be in next season's J-League.
Though the win today will surely give them confidence of doing the business when next week rolls around.
Torres, now 34, signed for Tosu in July after bowing out at boyhood club Atleti with the Europa League trophy. He joined his former Spain colleague Andres Iniesta in the Far East and seeing the two on the same pitch together, for opposite sides, was peak nostalgia.
Topics: Fernando Torres, Japan
