SAITAMA -- Cerezo Osaka, relegated to Division Two next season, advanced to the final of the Emperor's Cup after beating the Urawa Reds 1-0 thanks to midfielder Michiharu Sugimoto's second-half goal on Saturday at Saitama Stadium 2002.

Cerezo, which will be making its first appearance in the final of the annual tournament since 1994, will face last year's runnerup Shimizu S-Pulse at Tokyo's National Stadium on Tuesday.

S-Pulse edged Division Two club Kawasaki Frontale 2-1 at Kobe Wing Stadium in the other semifinal.

Playing before a crowd of 36,486 at Saitama Stadium, Cerezo looked a different team from the team which had failed to avoid relegation early last month. The Osaka players, midfielder Yoon Jung Hwan in particular, looked comfortable and confident in their game.

Cerezo new manager Akihiro Nishimura, former manager of Japan's 2001 World Youth team, has given Yoon a more attacking role on the team, and it seems to have revitalized not just the South Korean international but the whole team.

Cerezo's crucial goal came in the 64th minute when Yoon, combining well with former Reds forward Kenji Oshiba and Japan midfielder Hiroaki Morishima, fed a fine pass to Sugimoto. The midfielder, who enjoyed the freedom of the left flank all day, then beat two Urawa defenders on the edge of the box before blasting the ball into the net.

The Reds, backed by their fanatic fans, created a number of scoring chances in each half but failed to put the ball in the net.

Four minutes after Cerezo's goal, Brazilian midfielder Harison came close to scoring before right midfielder Nobuhisa Yamada threatened the Cerezo goal 10 minutes later. But Harison's shot sailed over the bar and Yamada's shot was met with a fine save by Cerezo goalkeeper Seigo Shimokawa.

"In a big game like this, you've got to play all aspects of the game perfectly and make sure you get the most out of your chances," Urawa's out-going manager Pita lamented. "But our players worked hard, and I think we should have won."

Nishimura said, "Both teams were under pressure and had good scoring chances. But we scored on one of ours and they didn't. We couldn't fully display our passing game today because of the poor condition of the pitch, so we are hoping we can show it off in the final."

With the win, Cerezo has extended its winning streak to seven since Nishimura took over from Brazilian Joao Carlos soon after the team was relegated with three rounds remaining in the regular season.

"The Emperor's Cup is a traditional tournament in Japan and would be the first big title since I became club manager. I'd love to win it," Nishimura added.

In Kobe, Shimizu midfielder Masaaki Sawanobori scored once and set up the winner for Baron, as the two-time runnerup overcame a resilient Frontale side.

Shimizu went ahead in the 27th minute. Baron received a pass from Alessandro Santos, formerly known as Alex, and fed the ball to Sawanobori, who fired into the net for the opener.

But Frontale rallied in the second half. Wing Taketo Shiokawa beat four Shimizu players on the left flank and crossed the ball in for Akira Ito, and the substitute forward, who had been left unguarded by the defense, headed in the equalizer.

But in the 76th minute Shimizu broke the tie on a counter attack. Sawanobori drove up field before sending in a cross for Baron. The Brazilian met the cross with a well-timed volley that flew into the net.

S-Pulse manager Zdravko Zemunovic was pleased his team had reached the final for the second time in two years, but admitted that it was a tough game for his side, saying "Frontale had the momentum."

Sawanobori commented, "We'd love to win the cup this time around. I should have scored more goals based on the chances I had today. I'll make it sure I'll do better in our next game."

Cerezo has played in the final six times and won the season-closing tournament twice -- in 1968 and '70 when the team was in the Japan Soccer League and called Yanmar.

It will be the third final for Shimizu, having been runnerup in 1998 and 2000.