Kashima Antlers 5-0 SAFFC: Koroki at the double as Antlers stroll

Two-goal hero Shinzo Koroki (left) has a shot blocked by Daniel Bennett as Kashima Antlers ease to a 5-0 victory over Singapore Armed Forces. (AFP)

KASHIMA – Shinzo Koroki scored twice as J.League champions Kashima Antlers strolled to a 5-0 victory over Singapore Armed Forces in a Group G encounter at Kashima Soccer Stadium on Wednesday.

Koroki struck either side of half-time and was joined on the score sheet by Takuya Nozawa, skipper Mitsuo Ogasawara and Yuya Osako as the Japanese side romped to their third straight victory in the competition.

With the win, Kashima joined Suwon Samsung Bluewings at the top of the group on nine points, three ahead of Shanghai Shenhua. SAF remain in last place without a point.

Kashima had won the first encounter 4-1 in Singapore two weeks ago and stamped their authority with a 4-3-3- formation that saw youngsters Osako and Koroki partnering Brazilian forward Marquinhos up front.

Marquinhos went close after only six minutes and 15 minutes later, Japan right-back Atsuto Uchida hit the crossbar with the ball rebounding to Osako whose attempt was foiled by SAF goalkeeper Shahril Jantan.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 29th minute when Toru Araiba’s cross from the left found a completely unmarked Takuya Nozawa, who put a diving header into the net for the 1,500th goal in Antlers club history.

The J. League champions made it 2-0 10 minutes later, when a half-clearance fell to Ogasawara, who drove the ball back into the box for Koroki to finish from close range.

SAF opted to keep Thai veteran midfielder Therdsak Chaiman, the most valuable player of the inaugural AFC Champions League in 2003, on the bench and rarely caused problems for the Kashima defence with striker Aleksandar Duric an ineffective figure.

Kashima’s domination continued after the break and they put the game away with two goals early in the second half.

Ogasawara made it 3-0 in the 50th minute, putting the ball away at the third attempt after Shahril had done well to deny Nozawa and Koroki.

Four minutes later, Osako tapped in his side’s fourth after a fine flowing move had cut open the SAF defence.

SAF were denied a consolation goal in the 71st minute when Duric’s close-range attempt was denied by Kashima goalkeeper Hitoshi Sogahata.

And Koroki completed the rout in the 74th minute, accelerating past defender Hafiz Osman on the left side of the box before slotting past Shahril from a tight angle.