Consadole Sapporo goalkeeper Yuya Sato went from villain to hero as the second-division side beat Albirex Niigata 8-7 in a nail-biting penalty shootout Saturday to book a place in the quarterfinals of the Emperor's Cup.
A momentary lapse of concentration from Sato allowed first-division Niigata an equalizer six minutes from the end of normal time and neither team was able to find a winner in extra time as the game finished 2-2 at Fukuda Denshi Arena.
But after the shootout went to sudden death, Hiroyuki Nishijima made it 8-7 and Sato got revenge on Kisho Yano after his earlier embarrassment, diving to his left to block the striker's spot kick.
Sapporo, who beat Nabisco Cup holders JEF United Chiba here in the last round, is the only non-first division side left in the competition.