Gamba Osaka booked their spot in next year's Asian Champions League and this season's Emperor's Cup on goals by Shu Kurata and Patric in a 2-0 J-League first-division win over Yokohama FC on Wednesday.
Gamba's victory at Nippatsu Mitsuzawa Stadium and Cerezo Osaka's 2-1 loss at home against Sagan Tosu clinched second place in J1, giving Gamba the second J1 berth in the Emperor's Cup, which has been pared down due to the coronavirus pandemic.
With the hosts trailing 2-0 after Patric's 81st-minute strike, Japanese soccer icon Kazuyoshi Miura, known to fans as "King Kazu," playing in his 35th pro season, entered for Yokohama FC, re-writing his record as the oldest to take part in a J1 game at 53 years, 9 months and 20 days.