Kawasaki Frontale booked their place in the Levain Cup semifinals Sunday with a 4-2 aggregate win over Nagoya Grampus in their quarterfinal tie.
Frontale will be joined in the penultimate stage of the league cup competition by Kashima Antlers, Gamba Osaka and Consadole Sapporo, following aggregate victories in their respective ties.
Needing only a draw following their 2-0 win in the opening leg Wednesday, the J. League champions settled for a 2-2 stalemate with Grampus at Paloma Mizuho Stadium.
Hokuto Shimoda opened the scoring in the 53rd minute with a long-range strike that swerved past Nagoya 'keeper Yohei Takeda.
Grampus forward Ariajasuru Hasegawa struck back 20 minutes later after Kawasaki goalkeeper Shota Arai parried a shot from Joao Schmidt into his path.
Frontale went up 2-1 in the 81st minute when Shimoda crossed to Leandro Damiao, who beat Takeda from the right of the area.
Brazilian forward Jo equalized with a minute left following a ball into the box from Daiki Enomoto.
At Kashima Stadium, Antlers, the Asian champions, held on for a 2-2 draw and 5-4 aggregate victory against a determined Urawa Reds side.
Following a 1-0 win Wednesday, Gamba Osaka lost 2-1 to FC Tokyo at NACK5 Stadium but progressed on the away goals rule.
At Edion Stadium Hiroshima, Consadole drew 1-1 with Sanfrecce Hiroshima for a 4-3 aggregate win.