While Yuma Suzuki squandered an early half-chance and Ryoya Ogawa’s attempt to catch out Filip with an unorthodox free-kick was wayward, it was the home side who were the more threatening for much of the first 45 minutes.

Le Pham Thanh Long’s shot was blocked and Leo Artur thumped his rising shot over the crossbar before the Brazilian shot at Tomoki Hayakawa as the halfway point in the period approached.

Nguyen Dinh Bac looked set to give Cong An Ha Noi the lead in the final minute of the half when he was played into space in the penalty area by Leo Artur only for a last ditch block from Naomichi Ueda to deny the Vietnam international.

Seconds later Jose Elber curled his shot over the bar as Kashima underlined their threat on the counterattack at the end of a period in which the home side were largely on top.

The visitors sought to build on the promise of that showing late in the first half following the resumption, with Leo Ceara heading over the bar having been picked out by Elber’s cross.

Elber then squandered Kashima’s best chance in the 56th minute when he was found unmarked by Ogawa at a free-kick, the forward steering his header wide of Filip’s left post. Leo Ceara then hit the side-netting as the J1 outfit continued to press.

Kashima’s determination paid off in the 61st minute when Gaku Shibasaki received a return pass from Leo Ceara on the edge of the area and the former Japan international fizzed his centre across the face of goal, enticing Adou Minh to steer the ball into his own net.

Hayakawa ensured Kashima retained their advantage with seven minutes remaining, the keeper throwing himself to his right to keep out Leo Artur’s strike after he had been set up by a defence-stretching cross-field pass by Alan Grafite as the Japanese side held on.