TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese champions Vissel Kobe booked their place in the knockout rounds of the Asian Champions League Elite on Tuesday with a 4-0 thrashing of China’s Shanghai Port as compatriots Kawasaki Frontale confirmed their progress to the last 16.
Kawasaki cruised to a 4-0 win over 10-man hosts Pohang Steelers in South Korea to claim their berth in the next phase with one round of matches remaining.
South Korea’s Gwangju FC will advance despite their 3-1 loss against Chinese Super League side Shandong Taishan while Tuesday’s results mean Yokohama F Marinos, who are third in the 12-team standings.
Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim, meanwhile, kept their qualification hopes alive with a 2-1 win over Australia’s Central Coast Mariners.
The top eight finishers in the league phase in both east and west Asia qualify for the last 16, with matches in the knockout phase to be played in March. Teams will then advance to centralized finals in Saudi Arabia in April and May.
Yoshinori Muto gave Kobe the perfect start when he struck in the 11th minute against Shanghai Port as former Yokohama F Marinos manager Kevin Muscat endured a torrid return to Japan with the Chinese Super League champions.
Yuya Kuwasaki added the second nine minutes after halftime with a shot that thumped in off the underside of the crossbar and, little more than a minute later, Koya Yuruki finished off an incisive counterattack for Kobe’s third.
Osako saw his 78th minute penalty saved by Yan Junling but the former Japan striker swept in his side’s fourth three minutes later when he made a decisive first-time connection with Takahiro Ohgihara’s free kick.
The win keeps Kobe on top with 16 points from seven games ahead of Kawasaki in second, one point adrift, while third-placed Yokohama F Marinos are on 13 points and guaranteed a top eight finish ahead of Wednesday’s meeting with Shanghai Shenhua.
Kawasaki took the lead against Pohang through Shin Yamada’s 38th minute header before Jonathan Aspropotamitis was dismissed for a second bookable offence. Late goals from Yasuto Wakizaka, So Kawahara and Erison ensured Kawasaki will advance.
JDT also capitalised on undermanned opponents, registering a 2-1 win over Central Coast after goalkeeper Dylan Peraic-Cullen was sent off for a foul on Arif Aiman late in the first half with Alvaro Gonzalez scoring twice to move his side up to fifth.
Shandong cruised to their win over Gwangju with first half goals from Valeri Qazaishvili, Zeca and Cryzan securing the points that take the Chinese side up to sixth.