Shoya Nakajima netted the tying goal before setting up the winner as FC Tokyo shrugged off fourth-tier Honda FC 2-1 on Wednesday to reach the quarterfinals of the Emperor's Cup.
Junya Kuno handed fluid Honda the first-half lead, but Nakajima, who netted for Japan during the Rio Olympics in August, equalized through a deflected effort after the break and set up his Rio teammate Sei Muroya with the winner 10 minutes from time at Ajinomoto Stadium.
"I knew it was going to be a difficult game and we were really made to work during the first half, but we kept calm and controlled after the break," Muroya said after scoring his first goal for the club.