Kashima Antlers moved level with Suwon Bluewings at the top of Asian Champions League Group G following a 5-0 rout of Singapore Armed Forces at Kashima Soccer Stadium.
Shinzo Koroki grabbed a brace while Takuya Nozawa, skipper Mitsuo Ogasawara and Yuya Osako also found the back of the net.
Kashima were immediately on the offensive and Marquinhos went close after six minutes before full-back Atsuto Uchida rattled the bar nine minutes later and SAF goalkeeper Shahril Jantan kept out Osako's follow-up.
The hosts took the lead just before the half-hour mark when Toru Araiba picked out the unmarked Nozawa with a cross from the left and his diving header became the 1,500th goal in Kashima's history.
The J.League champions doubled their advantage after 39 minutes when a clearance fell to Ogasawara, he knocked the ball back into the box and Koroki finished from close range.
SAF opted to keep veteran Thai midfielder Therdsak Chaiman on the bench and they rarely caused problems for the Kashima defence with striker Aleksandar Duric proving an ineffective figure.
Kashima continued to dominate in the second half and sealed the points with two early goals.
Ogasawara netted the third five minutes into the second period, firing home after Shahril had denied both Nozawa and Koroki.
Osako then finished off a delightful move with a simple finish to make it 4-0 after 54 minutes.
Duric saw a close-range effort well stopped by Kashima goalkeeper Hitoshi Sogahata before Koroki notched his second and his side's fifth in the 74th minute as he outpaced defender Hafiz Osman and slotted past Shahril from a tight angle.
Kashima were immediately on the offensive and Marquinhos went close after six minutes before full-back Atsuto Uchida rattled the bar nine minutes later and SAF goalkeeper Shahril Jantan kept out Osako's follow-up.
The hosts took the lead just before the half-hour mark when Toru Araiba picked out the unmarked Nozawa with a cross from the left and his diving header became the 1,500th goal in Kashima's history.
The J.League champions doubled their advantage after 39 minutes when a clearance fell to Ogasawara, he knocked the ball back into the box and Koroki finished from close range.
SAF opted to keep veteran Thai midfielder Therdsak Chaiman on the bench and they rarely caused problems for the Kashima defence with striker Aleksandar Duric proving an ineffective figure.
Kashima continued to dominate in the second half and sealed the points with two early goals.
Ogasawara netted the third five minutes into the second period, firing home after Shahril had denied both Nozawa and Koroki.
Osako then finished off a delightful move with a simple finish to make it 4-0 after 54 minutes.
Duric saw a close-range effort well stopped by Kashima goalkeeper Hitoshi Sogahata before Koroki notched his second and his side's fifth in the 74th minute as he outpaced defender Hafiz Osman and slotted past Shahril from a tight angle.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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