Jubilo Iwata and Kashima Antlers are set for a quarterfinal showdown in the Nabisco Cup after both reached the last eight with late away wins in the final round of group-stage matches on Sunday.
Iwata edged Vegalta Sendai 1-0 away courtesy of an 81st-minute header from Takahiro Kawamura and Brazilian Augusto struck two minutes from time as Kashima won by the same scoreline at Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
JEF United Ichihara and Gamba Osaka also won to move into the Sept. 4 quarterfinals.
Iwata, last year's runnerup, finished top of Group A on 12 points, five clear of Kashiwa Reysol which also qualified despite going down 1-0 away at Consadole Sapporo.
Kashima finished second in Group D on nine points behind Urawa Reds, who were handed a 5-1 thrashing at home to Nagoya Grampus Eight. Urawa meets Kashiwa in the quarterfinals.
Second-half goals from Tadatoshi Masuda and Shinichi Muto powered Group C leader Ichihara to a 3-1 away win at 10-man Yokohama F Marinos, sending the defending Nabisco Cup champions crashing out of the competition.
Ichihara will face already qualified Shimizu S-Pulse, which defeated Group B winner FC Tokyo 2-1 at home thanks to a first-half brace from Yoshikiyo Kuboyama.
Gamba Osaka edged Kyoto Purple Sanga 2-1 away to grab the second qualification spot and meet FC Tokyo.