Kashima Antlers lived to see another day in the Asian Champions League thanks to substitute Hiroyuki Takasaki's last-gasp header that gave them a 2-1 win over Guangzhou Evergrande on Tuesday.
A first-half Yasushi Endo penalty pushed Toninho Cerezo's men in front, but 2013 champion Guangzhou restored parity through Elkeson midway through the second half.
Yet just when it looked like the hosts were doomed, Takasaki, who came on with 13 minutes to go, headed in Gaku Shibasaki's free kick with the last touch of the game to give Kashima its first win of the campaign.