Gamba Osaka forward Masato Yamazaki struck twice as the holders downed J.League champions Kashima Antlers 2-1 in the quarter-finals of the Emperor's Cup.
Gamba, who suffered a 5-1 defeat to Kashima in a J.League meeting two weeks ago, produced a more determined performance this time around and went ahead in the 29th minute when Yamazaki headed home Yasuhito Endo's free-kick.
Kashima were without injured Brazilian midfielder Danilo and compatriot Marquinhos but managed to level through Yuzo Tashima shortly before the break.
But it was the visitors who regained the lead in the 69th minute when Yamazaki fired home Hideo Hashimoto's return ball from 10 yards.
"I'm feeling relieved," said Gamba boss Akira Nishino.
"We hadn't played well against Kashima in our last three matches and last time in particular we couldn't play our brand of football at all.
"But we recovered well from that today and our pace told in the end. Antlers still might have been savouring the taste of champagne after winning the league though."
Kashima manager Oswaldo Oliveira paid tribute to the victors, saying: "This match-up was the one many would probably have wanted to see.
"We were too erratic in the first half but I don't think our players were tired. You cannot expect to have an easy game against Gamba as they have quality in their players and abilities.
"When two high-standard teams play each other, this can happen."
Kawasaki Frontale, meanwhile, fell at the hands of Vegalta Sendai 2-1 after extra-time to bow out of the season-ending tournament.
Sendai, who won Division Two and promotion to the nation's top flight last season, took the lead in the 35th minute through Yuki Nakashima.
Kawasaki fought back hard in the second half and managed to equalise with Kazuhiro Murakami's left-footer shortly before the end of the game.
But former Japan forward Tomoyuki Hirase, on as a second-half substitute, headed home a cross from Kunimitsu Sekiguchi two minutes from the end of extra-time to seal Sendai's passage to the last four.
"After we gave up the first goal, our players played hard in the second half but couldn't convert the big chances we had," said Kawasaki manager Takashi Sekizuka.
Shimizu S-Pulse reached the semi-finals after edging out 10-man Albirex Niigata 3-2 after extra time with Arata Kodama netting the winner.
Gamba will now meet Sendai at the National Stadium in Tokyo in the semi-finals on December 28, while Shimizu will face either Nagoya Grampus or FC Gifu in Shizuoka.
Kashima were without injured Brazilian midfielder Danilo and compatriot Marquinhos but managed to level through Yuzo Tashima shortly before the break.
But it was the visitors who regained the lead in the 69th minute when Yamazaki fired home Hideo Hashimoto's return ball from 10 yards.
"I'm feeling relieved," said Gamba boss Akira Nishino.
"We hadn't played well against Kashima in our last three matches and last time in particular we couldn't play our brand of football at all.
"But we recovered well from that today and our pace told in the end. Antlers still might have been savouring the taste of champagne after winning the league though."
Kashima manager Oswaldo Oliveira paid tribute to the victors, saying: "This match-up was the one many would probably have wanted to see.
"We were too erratic in the first half but I don't think our players were tired. You cannot expect to have an easy game against Gamba as they have quality in their players and abilities.
"When two high-standard teams play each other, this can happen."
Kawasaki Frontale, meanwhile, fell at the hands of Vegalta Sendai 2-1 after extra-time to bow out of the season-ending tournament.
Sendai, who won Division Two and promotion to the nation's top flight last season, took the lead in the 35th minute through Yuki Nakashima.
Kawasaki fought back hard in the second half and managed to equalise with Kazuhiro Murakami's left-footer shortly before the end of the game.
But former Japan forward Tomoyuki Hirase, on as a second-half substitute, headed home a cross from Kunimitsu Sekiguchi two minutes from the end of extra-time to seal Sendai's passage to the last four.
"After we gave up the first goal, our players played hard in the second half but couldn't convert the big chances we had," said Kawasaki manager Takashi Sekizuka.
Shimizu S-Pulse reached the semi-finals after edging out 10-man Albirex Niigata 3-2 after extra time with Arata Kodama netting the winner.
Gamba will now meet Sendai at the National Stadium in Tokyo in the semi-finals on December 28, while Shimizu will face either Nagoya Grampus or FC Gifu in Shizuoka.
Copyright (c) Press Association
