While the Jets are still a chance of scraping an A-League finals berth after a much-needed 2-1 win over Melbourne City, a playoff victory over the J-League powerhouse and a group-stage berth would have arguably proven much sweeter.

But when Sho Ito gave Kashima the advantage after 18 minutes, the straining floodgates seemed to have opened. Bar a moment of individual brilliance from Roy O'Donovan's right-boot, Newcastle had offered nearly nothing.

However, as the Jets played quickly through the lines and showed a little mettle in shaping up a Kashima defender, they were consistently rewarded - Ronny Vargas benefitting from a stroke of luck to tuck home an equaliser minutes later.

Unfortunately for Newcastle, that's about as creative as they mustered. Unanswered strikes from Yashuto Yamamoto and a brace to Brazillian import Serginho showed the gulf in class one might have expected between the ACL winners and the A-League's seventh-ranked side.

There was little room for an Ernie Merrick manouevre after the match, the typically straight forward Scot telling it like it was: Newcastle face a gulf in class to Asia's best, enough said.

"Kashima were far too strong, they were very sharp and technically very good," Merrick said.

"Everytime they got near our goals they outplayed us, so the better team won today."

Glen Moss - 7

Pulled off some fantastic reaction-stops to hold Kashima's relentless forward line at bay, pity his defenders were often motionless in response. It's rare that a goalkeeper cops four goals and can still hold his head up high, but there was little to fault Moss for - anything he could realistically stretch an experienced paw to, he did with aplomb.

Bonus points for giving his defenders hell every time they deserved it. Happened a little too often. 

Nikolai Topor-Stanley - 6

Left looking a little immobile by a pacey, intricate Antlers' attack, but he steadied as the match wore on and eventually rose to command the sort of aerial presence you'd expect from the big defender.

Pity he couldn't impress similar dominance a little closer to the ground.

Nigel Boogaard - 7

Defensive giant, rambunctious in every challenge and arguably the Jets' most effective in the first half.

While he slowed a little in the second - he was one of the Jets' busiest all match, and one of their most consistent ball movers - copping a tired, disappointing penalty for stamping on Serginho was a rough mark on an otherwise strong performance. 

In hindsight, these regular brainfades are arguably Boogaard's largest weakness. Otherwise he's a fantastic leader.

Johnny Koutroumbis - 5

Looked exhausted after the opening 20 minutes and fell asleep for Kashima's second goal, letting Shuto Yamamoto stroll straight past him.

He recovered slightly towards the end and it's worth mentioning, delivered a textbook sliding challenge on Hiroki Abe after the exciting winger looked to leave him stranded, but it wasn't a strong performance.

Ben Kantarovski - 5

Warmed his way into the match after a shaky start, playing as part of a back-three. 

Ultimately played a large role alongside Boogaard in impressing Newcastle's physical advantage towards the end of the first half, but picked up where he started off in the second - one of Newcastle's least convincing defensively.

Daniel Georgievski - 6

Another shaky start, tending to rush clearances and waste throw-in opportunities. Warmed up, but by the time he could impose himself on a few challenges, Newcastle were spent.

Steven Ugarkovic - 5

Not his finest night, as he failed to maintain any considerable possession, largely outplayed in the centre of the park.

Mathew Ridenton - 6

While Ugarkovic struggled with a fast-paced tempo, Ridenton excelled, at least momentarily. His physical output was also strong. 

Dimitri Petratos - 5

Newcastle needed Petratos to be at his dynamic best if they were to trouble the reigning Asian Champions League winners, and in the brief moment he was, Newcastle equalised. However it wasn't yo last, and he was off the pace all night.

Ronny Vargas - 7

Scored a confident, albeit entirely deflected equaliser and was Newcastle's star attacking influence until his early substitution. The quick flick-ons and composed ball-movement were Vargas' game, and after his departure the Jets looked listless.

Roy O'Donovan - 5

Almost scored an absolute world-beater in the first 10 minutes, but was largely anonymous after that. He ran defenders down doggedly but offered little in possession.

SUBS

Joey Champness - 5

In fairness to the flashy winger, he tried a variety of different tacts to try to impose himself on a match that desperately required his dynamism, but to no avail.

Dropping deep to offer a defensive presence he was outclassed, and he couldn't press effectively either. 

Perhaps most disappointingly for Merrick, he was thrown into a match where Newcastle required extremely quick ball movement to transition forward and, to little fault of his own, never had a chance to bring himself up to speed.

Kaine Sheppard - N/A

It's not that he wasn't brought on soon enough, it's just that he couldn't get on the ball. 

His physicality could have been a game-changer, at least if it wasn't for Kashima's enduring dominance, had Merrick taken the plunge a little earlier.