Oita Trinita goalkeeper Shun Takagi stood tall in a man-of-the-match performance on Sunday, saving twice in a penalty shootout to eliminate J-League champions Kawasaki Frontale and advance to next Sunday's Emperor's Cup final against Urawa Reds.
The 32-year-old stopped two penalties as Kazuya Yamamura, Koki Tsukagawa, and Miki Yamane failed to score as Oita clinched a 5-4 shootout victory after the clash against the defending champs was deadlocked 1-1 at the end of extra time at Todoroki Stadium.
Trinita became the first J-League team from Kyushu to reach the final.
Super sub Yu Kobayashi appeared to have won the game for Kawasaki deep into extra time before Brazilian Henrique Trevisan headed home an equalizer from middle of the area for J2-bound Oita, sending the game to penalties.
Under pressure throughout a game dominated by a Kawasaki side seeking their second straight league and cup double, Takagi remained on his toes with an inspired turn in the shootout.
"I always look forward to facing Frontale because they always play well, and you have to be at your best," Takagi said. "I was able to play well, but I'm really thankful to my teammates."
Seeking consolation following their relegation from the J-League top flight, Oita showed few signs of being able to break a Frontale unbeaten streak at home dating back to the 2020 season.
Kawasaki was in control from the outset, but their lack of a finishing touch -- and Takagi's sterling efforts -- kept the game scoreless through 90 minutes.
Frontale manager Toru Oniki looked to land a decisive blow before extra time by bringing on attackers Kobayashi and Kei Chinen late for Leandro Damiao and Reo Hatate, but the visitors desperately hung on until the whistle.
Kobayashi fired wide from close range at the end of the first extra-time period, but he was not to be denied with a point-blank finish in the 113th minute.
With extra time set to expire, Trevisan got his head to a ball into the box from Hokuto Shimoda, sparking wild celebrations from outgoing Trinita manager Tomohiro Katanosaka and the rest of the Oita bench.
At Saitama Stadium, Reds cruised in a 2-0 win over Cerezo Osaka that brought down the curtain on the career of J-League first-division career scoring leader Yoshito Okubo.
Reds grabbed an early lead through veteran Tomoya Ugajin, and late substitute Yoshio Koizumi put the matter to rest in the final minutes with a tremendous effort.
Takahiro Akimoto got the ball out of penalty area scramble, passing it back to Ugajin, who had plenty of time to tee it up and fire a low shot through a crowd and into the goal just before the half-hour mark.
Koizumi entered in the 73rd minute and a quarter of an hour later shredded the Cerezo defense. He dribbled past two defenders before beating defender Ryuya Nishio in a one-on-one and firing past keeper Kim Jin Hyeon.
When it was over, Okubo, who scored 191 J1 goals, said he took a walk around the stadium to wave goodbye to the Reds fans.
"I would have liked to have won, but Urawa Reds played well in this great stadium," Okubo said. "It's been a great 21 years.
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