AFC Champions League Elite
Aleksandar Cavric starred with a hat-trick for the Japanese side with Homare Tokuda netting a brace as the 2018 champions, who last featured in the continental stage in 2019, marked their comeback in emphatic fashion.
Kashima were on the front foot from the opening whistle, with Yuta Matsumura and Yan Matheus both threatening before the home side took the lead in the 11th minute.
Australia’s Newcastle were punished after conceding possession cheaply, allowing Tokuda to tee up Aleksandar Cavric, who unleashed a powerful curling effort from distance.
The Australian side were caught out again five minutes later when Matsumura's through ball released Cavric, who beat the offside trap before producing an exquisite chip over goalkeeper James Delianov.
Things went from bad to worse for Delianov in the 19th minute when he failed to hold Ryoya Ogawa's effort, with the ball slipping through his legs and crossing the line for an own goal.
Kashima continued to dominate and added their fourth in the 40th minute, Ogawa releasing Tokuda, who calmly steered his finish into the bottom right corner.
Cavric then completed his hat-trick two minutes later, Yan Matheus collecting a deflected Kim Tae-hyeon through ball before setting up the forward for a simple finish past the advancing Delianov, with the goal confirmed following a VAR review.
MD1: Kashima Antlers FC (JPN) v Newcastle Jets FC (AUS)
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There was no let-up from Kashima after the restart, with Tokuda adding his second of the evening in the 56th minute, receiving a long ball and cutting in from the right before finding the bottom left corner.
Substitute Kyosuke Tagawa made it 7-0 in the 73rd minute, sweeping home Haruki Hayashi's cut-back from the centre of the box.
Newcastle pulled one back six minutes later when Joe Lolley released Patrick Wood on a quick counter-attack with the forward finishing past goalkeeper Tomoki Hayakawa but it was a mere consolation as Kashima comfortably secured the three points.
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