Midfield duo Nobuki Hara and Yoon Jong Hwan both helped themselves to a brace as relegated Cerezo Osaka booked its place in the semifinals of the Emperor's Cup with a shock 4-2 win over holders Kashima Antlers on Monday.
Cerezo put the disappointment of relegation to the second division behind them as it rewrote the Emperor's Cup script by turning over its much-fancied opponent in a pulsating "home" tie at Nagai Stadium.
Hara rocked the J. League champions when he sent a delightful curling shot beyond the despairing dive of Kashima goalkeeper Hitoshi Sogahata to put the home side ahead after just four minutes.
Japan striker Takayuki Suzuki turned in Mitsuo Ogasawara's free-kick to equalize in the 22nd minute but South Korean midfielder Yoon restored Cerezo's lead by drilling home Hiroaki Morishima's cheeky backheel within seconds of the restart.
In no mood to be upstaged, however, Kashima was back on level terms when Atsushi Yanagisawa smashed home a Masashi Motoyama cross from the left but slack Kashima defending allowed Hara to poke home at the near post on 62 minutes for his second goal of the afternoon.
Yoon coolly converted the fourth from the spot five minutes later after he had been hauled down by Yutaka Akita to seal the win and set Cerezo up with a semifinal showdown against Urawa Reds.