Kashiwa Reysol suffered a second-half meltdown to leave their Asian Champions League final dream hanging by a thread after a 4-1 home defeat to Marcello Lippi's Guangzhou Evergrande in their semifinal first leg on Wednesday night.
Jorge Wagner handed Emperor's Cup winners Reysol a 10th-minute lead at Hitachi Stadium, but away goals after the break from Muriqui, Elkeson and star Argentine playmaker Dario Conca made next Wednesday's second leg practically a formality for the Chinese champions.
Reysol went into the match with hopes of becoming the first Japanese team since Gamba Osaka in 2008 to claim the continental title, but manager Nelsinho refused to throw in the title despite needing to score at least four goals against World Cup winner Lippi's side next week.