Keita Suzuki struck a late winner as Urawa Reds edged Vissel Kobe 1-0 on Wednesday to move into the quarterfinals of the J. League Nabisco Cup.
Nagoya Grampus Eight won by the same score line away at Kyoto Purple Sanga, while FC Tokyo also advanced to the last eight after a 2-1 victory at Vegalta Sendai.
Tokyo Verdy beat group winner Jubilo Iwata 3-2 in the other match courtesy of a hat trick from Cameroon striker Patrick Mboma.
A 23rd-minute winner from Brazilian Ueslei was enough to give Nagoya the only berth from Group D, while FC Tokyo finished top of Group B to make the quarterfinals thanks to an 87th-minute goal from Amaral.
In the other Group B match, Yokohama F. Marinos, already assured of a place in the quarterfinals, drew 1-1 at home to Kashiwa Reysol.
Gamba Osaka, the only team to advance from Group C, lost 2-1 away to J. League leader JEF United Ichihara, which finished bottom of the group.
Leeds eyes Nakata
LONDON (Kyodo) English Premier League club Leeds United is looking to sign Japan midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata from Italian Serie A club Parma, a British newspaper reported Thursday.
According to a report in The Sun, Britain's biggest selling daily, Parma is ready to let Nakata go at a knock-down price and Leeds is looking into ways of financing his £45,000 ($72,000) a week wages.