OKAYAMA, Japan (Kyodo) -- Fagiano Okayama earned their maiden berth in the J-League top flight Saturday by defeating Vegalta Sendai 2-0 in the final of the four-team promotion playoffs.

Goals from Rui Sueyoshi and Haruka Motoyama clinched the win at City Light Stadium where hosts Okayama, who finished fifth in the J2 this season, needed only a draw to secure promotion ahead of sixth-placed Sendai.

Okayama ended the playoffs with two clean sheets after winning 3-0 last weekend at fourth-placed Montedio Yamagata in the semifinals. Sendai advanced with a 4-1 win at third-placed V-Varen Nagasaki but could not find a breakthrough in the final.

"I'm overwhelmed," Okayama manager Takashi Kiyama said. "I'm beyond happy, this is the best feeling ever. I could see the players starting the game without any fear...This promotion is thanks to an accumulation of history by those who worked hard for this club."

Sueyoshi handed Okayama a 20th-minute lead when he curled in a superb lob into the far corner from the left side of the box. Sendai had a big chance in the 53rd minute when halftime substitute George Onaiwu ran the entire opposing half, but his low strike was denied.

Okayama doubled the lead in the 61st minute after substitute Lucao shrugged off three Sendai players to feed Motoyama, whose shot deflected in. Giant Brazilian Lucao hit the framework twice while Sendai's Masayuki Okuyama had a shot diverted onto the bar late on.

Okayama, who went out in the playoffs in 2016 and 2022, join J2 champions Shimizu S-Pulse and runners-up Yokohama FC in the top division next season.