J.League champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima gave themselves the mental edge for the stretch run of the season with a resounding 3-1 victory over Kashima Antlers in the Emperor's Cup round of 16 on Saturday.
Sanfrecce rode Japanese international Yojiro Takahagi's first-half brace to reach the Dec. 22 quarterfinals after a teasing preview of the matchup on the final weekend of the J.League.
Third-place Sanfrecce and fourth-place Antlers meet again at Kashima Stadium on Dec. 7. The top four teams, with Yokohama F.Marinos on top and Urawa Reds in second, are separated by just three points with three games left to play.