Andres Iniesta scored one goal and helped set up another as Vissel Kobe advanced to the Emperor's Cup final with a 3-1 win over Shimizu S-Pulse on Saturday.
The star-studded J. League club will christen the new National Stadium in Tokyo on New Year's Day against Kashima Antlers, who beat second-division V-Varen Nagasaki 3-2 in the other semifinal.
With former Spain and Barcelona great Iniesta pulling the strings, Kobe saw off a spirited challenge from S-Pulse, who created several good chances on the counterattack.