Kirins humbled in Kawasaki
Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale hammered SCG Muang Thong United 4-1 last night to reach the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League with a 7-2 aggregate win.
In Kawasaki, a three-goal burst in the first 10 minutes guaranteed a last-eight spot for the hosts as they thrashed Muang Thong once again after last week’s 3-1 victory at SCG Stadium.
Yu Kobayashi’s individual goal set the Japanese side on their way after 31 minutes, before his cut-back found Tatsuya Hasegawa for Kawasaki’s second just a minute later.
Neto’s 40th-minute header made it 3-0 and Brazilian midfielder Rhayner got the fourth after 79 minutes, before Teerasil Dangda grabbed a late consolation for the struggling Thai champions.
The Kirins have lost six matches in a row — three each in the ACL and Thai League 1.
They are now second in Thai League 1, three points behind Buriram United although the Kirins have a game in hand.
Muang Thong will meet Chiang Rai United on June 2 in their postponed game.
Also yesterday, ex-Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Paulinho grabbed a crucial goal as two-time winners Guangzhou Evergrande squeaked past Kashima Antlers on away goals.
Paulinho, the scorer in last week’s 1-0 win in Guangzhou, tapped in after 55 minutes and it was enough to put the Chinese team through despite their 2-1 defeat on the night.
The result was cruel on Kashima, who went ahead through Pedro Junior’s superb strike in the first half and scored again via Mu Kanazaki in injury time for an aggregate score of 2-2.
But it was a major step forward for Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Chinese league leaders, who lifted the Asian title in 2013 and 2015 but exited last year’s competition at the group stage.
The hosts looked comfortable but Evergrande seized back the initiative in the 55th minute when Wang Shangyuan’s long throw-in was flicked on by Gao Lin.
That was the start of a move that left Paulinho with a simple finish to make it 2-1 on aggregate.