Kashiwa, Gamba for final of Emperor's Cup

Gamba Osaka ガンバ大阪 and Kashiwa Reysol 柏レイソル will meet in the finals of the Emperor's Cup as both sides won thrilling semi-final matches.

Reysol came from behind to defeated FC Tokyo FC東京 2-1 as Tadanari Lee scored the winning strike at the eighty-eight minute. After a thrilling J-League season that saw the Gas Men climb to sixth-place, Tatsuya Suzuki extended their hopes for the Emperor's Cup as he gave them the lead just past the half-hour mark. However Reysol stormed back with França leveling the match with twenty-two minutes remaining off the provision of compatriot Alex before Tadanari Lee's winner.

Gamba Osaka defeated Yokohama F. Marinos 横浜F・マリノス 1-0 with a late goal Masato Yamazaki with four minutes remaining in extra-time. Deadlocked without a score after regulation, the F. Marinos were forced to play a man down when Norihisa Shimizu was sent off with his second yellow-card twelve minutes into extra-time.

Kashiwa Reysol 柏レイソル and Gamba Osaka ガンバ大阪 will now decide the Emperor's Cup with the final played at the National Stadium in Tokyo on New Year’s Day.