TOKYO - J.League champions Urawa Reds will meet Gamba Osaka in the final of the Emperor's Cup as Guido Buchwald's team look to retain the trophy they won 12 months ago.

Reds won the Emperor's Cup on New Year's Day last year and set themselves up for a repeat with a 2-1 semi-final win over Kashima Antlers on Friday.

Brazilian midfielder Robson Ponte hit the winner for Reds seven minutes from time after Shinji Ono gave the newly crowned league champions the lead in the 41st minute only for Daiki Iwamasa to deflect Takuya Nozawa's free-kick past Ryota Tsukuzi in the 70th minute to level the scores.

"We knew how Kashima would play and our players did what they had to do even after giving away an equalizer," said Buchwald, who will stand down as Reds coach after Monday's final following three seasons in Japan.

"Our players did well in terms of changing their focus on this tournament without feeling satisfied with the league title. I've been given a great opportunity to wrap up my time in Japan with victory in the final."

Gamba, meanwhile, overcame second division side Consadole Sapporo 2-1 to reach the final for the first time since 1990.

Japan international Akira Kaji put Gamba ahead in the 19th minute when he slotted home Masafumi Maeda's pass before Maeda doubled his side's lead eight minutes after the restart.

Tatsuya Aikawa reduced the deficit for Consadole in the 55th minute but it was not enough to kick-start a revival for Sapporo, who were playing in the Emperor's Cup semi-finals for the first time.