Hiroshima had already booked their place in the last 16 as group winners prior to the game while Eastern were already eliminated, leaving only pride to play for as both teams took to the field.

Eastern made the perfect start in the 10th minute, the visitors attacking quickly down the left to open the scoring.

Noah Baffoe flicked the ball wide to Ng and he raced towards the penalty area, side-stepping around Kohei Hosoya before beating goalkeeper Keisuke Osako at his near post with a crisp rising shot that crashed into the roof of the net.

Eastern almost added a second in the 24th minute when Baffoe fed Jojo Alexander from the right touchline and he in turn set up Ng, but the attempt was a yard wide of Osako’s right post.

Hiroshima captain Toshihiro Aoyama shot wide from distance and Makoto Mitsuta blazed over the bar from 15 yards out as the home side sought the equaliser and Eastern’s resistance ended with nine minutes left in the half.

Shichi shot from outside the area was blocked by Yapp Hung Fai and it was Aoyama who reacted quickest to deftly lift the ball over the Eastern goalkeeper from close range for the leveller.

Six minutes into the second half Eastern’s Victor Bertomeu sprinted into the Hiroshima half, only to see his attempt on goal blocked by the home defence and, within two minutes, Sanfrecce had gone in front.

Sota Koshimichi drove down the right before delivering a cross towards the far post that Paciencia headed past Yapp. Hiroshima’s third soon followed after Mitsuta released Hiroya Matsumoto down the right and his first time centre was stroked home by Nakajima

Yapp denied Mitsuta at close range and Paciencia dragged the rebound wide as the J1 League side sought to further extend their lead and the fourth came in the 73rd minute when Sotiriou gave the goalkeeper no chance with a curling shot from the edge of the area.