Kashima Antlers needed a late own goal to edge past Fagiano Okayama and reach the fourth round of the Emperor's Cup on Thursday as they claimed a hard-fought 2-1 win against the J2 outfit.

Okayama, sitting fifth in the second tier and in a playoff position, pressed its J1 host early on and had a penalty appeal turned down before taking the lead in the 22nd minute, when Yoshiki Fujimoto chased a long ball and held off Brazilian Bueno to slot home.

Kashima poured forward in search of an equalizer in the second half and broke Okayama's resistance on the hour mark, Ryota Nagaki cutting in from the left and striking from 23 meters via a slight deflection.

With just two minutes remaining at rain-soaked Kashima Soccer Stadium, Okayama midfielder Kenji Sekido dived in low to head Gaku Shibasaki's awkward cross out for a corner, but managed only to steer it past his own 'keeper inside the post.

"It was a difficult game today, and we had to go for it (after the break) so I tried to stay further up the field," said Nagaki. "My goal came on the counter and Mu (Kanazaki) made a good run, dragging defenders out to open up the space.

Elsewhere for J1 sides, Vissel Kobe was held 3-3 by J2's Montedio Yamagata but won 5-3 on penalties, while Albirex Niigata won 1-0 against J2 side Renofa Yamaguchi.

Yokohama F. Marinos hammered J2's Tokyo Verdy 4-0, while Omiya Ardija romped to a 5-0 win over Jubilo Iwata in the battle of top-tier sides.

Fourth-tier JFL side Honda FC defeated J3 Grulla Morioka 2-1.