The first leg of the 2016 J.League YBC Levain Cup semi-finals took place on a rainy Wednesday night in Japan.

At Tokyo’s Ajinomoto Stadium, Urawa Reds took a large step toward the final at their home ground of Saitama Stadium with a 2-1 win at FC Tokyo. 

The hosts took the lead shortly into the second half thanks to Keigo Higashi, but the Reds managed their third come-from-behind victory against the capital club this season with goals from Toshiyuki Takagi and Yuki Muto.

Further west at Osaka’s Suita Stadium, Gamba Osaka and Yokohama F. Marinos battled to a scoreless draw, with neither team able to capitalise on their chances.

The return leg will take place on Sunday with Urawa Reds hosting FC Tokyo at Saitama Stadium and Yokohama F. Marinos facing Gamba Osaka at Nissan Stadium, just six days ahead of the October 15 final.