By Kumi Kinohara Staff Writer
Kawasaki Frontale, dwelling at the bottom of the J. League Division One standings, advanced to the Nabisco Cup final Wednesday night after edging Kyoto Purple Sanga 3-2 on aggregate.
Brazilian midfielder Ricardinho struck the crucial blow during injury time after the 30-minute extra time for Frontale, which had won 2-0 in the first leg. Kyoto was ahead 2-0 after 90 minutes Wednesday at Tokyo's National Stadium, which put the aggregate score at 2-2, sending the affair into extra time.
In the Nov. 4 final, Frontale will play the Kashima Antlers, winners of the 1997 competition. The Antlers advanced to the final for the second year in a row after beating Nagoya Grampus Eight 6-3 on aggregate.
Tomoyuki Hirase scored twice and, with the score tied at 2-2, Mitsuo Ogasawara scored the winning goal shortly before time in Kashima's 3-2 second-leg win in Sendai. Kashima won the first leg 3-1.
Kyoto canceled out Kawasaki's first-leg lead with Brazilian defender Edinho Baiano's eighth-minute header and Daisuke Matsui's skillful lob in the 64th minute.
Frontale, meanwhile, accelerated its attack in extra time. With the clock winding down, substitute midfielder Akira Ito sent a cross from the right to Ricardinho, who headed the winner.