Yuzo Tashiro, Marquinhos and Takuya Nozawa all helped themselves to two goals each while Daiki Iwamasa, Takeshi Aoki and Ryuta Sasaki also scored to ensure Antlers got their Group F campaign off to an emphatic start.

The hosts only had a Kassim Kone goal to show for their efforts and were never really in the game as Kashima, looking to wrest the continental title from fellow Japanese side Urawa Reds, dominated from start to finish.

The visitors were ahead after just 16 minutes when Tashiro slotted beyond Klisana Klunklin. Just five minutes later they had a two-goal advantage when Iwamasa headed home.

Kashima strode even further ahead in the 35th minute when Nozawa volleyed home from a Marquinhos pass. The hosts' misery was compounded soon after the break when Aoki reacted quickly to convert after Marquinhos effort had not been dealt with properly.

Tashiro grabbed his second in the 50th minute when he went one-on-one with goalkeeper Klisana before converting. Kone's header reduced the deficit for Krung Thai Bank just after the hour mark but it did little to stem the Kashima onslaught.

Marquinho shrugged off the defenders to score and then quickly notched his second when he pushed the ball over the line for his side's seventh.

The goals continued to come as substitute Sasaki capitalised on a mistake by goalkeeper Klisana to fire home.

The scoring was rounded off deep in injury time when Nozawa slotted home.