Gamba Osaka traveled to Kashima for their Round of 16 Emperor's Cup game with Antlers and came home with a 2-0 defeat, despite some promising signs and a decent start to the game. Two goals in four minutes from the 70th minute put paid to their hopes of the Emperor's Cup trophy for this season.

After a promising start that saw Mitsuki Saito and Shu Kurata involved in some fine attacking play, Masaaki Higashiguchi was forced into action to deny Everaldo's header in the 19th minute. The game proceeded to be shared, in both possession and half chances, but the score remained 0-0 at the break.

With Isa Sakamoto out to impress up front, and Hiroto Yamami also starting, Gamba Osaka were again giving the youth a chance but it was veteran Brazilian strike Patric that again got the chance on the hour mark, only to see his effort saved.

With 20 minutes to go the breakthrough came for the away team as Diego Pituca latched onto a free ball and drilled home to give Antlers a 1-0 lead.

Gamba then made changes, bringing on another youth product in Harumi Minamino, as well as Hideki Ishige, but almost as soon as the changes had been made Gamba were 2-0 down as Everaldo headed home a cross.

Despite looking for goals - with nothing more to lose in this knockout game - Gamba could not force their way back into this game and it ended 2-0 to the home team.

Team - Higashiguchi, Takao, Miura, Shoji (Yanagisawa, 80), Kurokawa (Fujiharu, 80), Saito, Dawhan, Kurata (Ishige, 72), Yamami (Minamino, 72), Sakamoto (Fukuoka, 80), Patric