Late goals from Hiroki Fujiharu and Brazilian striker Patric sent defending champions Gamba Osaka into the J. League Championship final with a 3-1 extra-time win away to first-stage winners Urawa Reds in the playoff semifinal on Saturday.
Former Japan international Yasuyuki Konno fired Gamba in front early in the second half before substitute Zlatan Ljubijankic headed Reds level with 18 minutes of a pulsating encounter remaining in regulation.
But Fujiharu struck on his 27th birthday with two minutes left in the second extra period and Patric killed the game off with Gamba's third to set up a meeting in the two-leg final against Sanfrecce Hiroshima.