Japan on top in AFC Champions League

Japan remains firmly on track to have four teams in the last 16 of the AFC Champions League after decisive victories Wednesday for Kashima Antlers and Nagoya Grampus.

The Antlers thrashed Singapore Armed Forces 5-0 at home while Nagoya grabbed a valuable three points with a 1-0 win over Newcastle Jets in Australia.

Defending champions Gamba Osaka and fellow Japanese side Kawasaki Frontale are already through to the knockout rounds — the only two teams qualified so far — as the J-League once again proves its credentials in Asian football.

Kashima now have nine points in Group G, level with Korean giants Suwon Bluewings who won their crucial clash with Chinese heavyweights Shanghai Shenhua 2-1.

Two quick goals just before the break from Suwon’s Lee Sang-Ho and Bae Ki-Jong cancelled out Yanko Valkanov’s 12th minute strike for Shenhua, leaving the Chinese team on six points and facing a must-win trip to Kashima on May 5.

Nagoya tightened their grip on Group E with a Yoshizumi Ogawa goal, leaving them unbeaten and well placed to advance on eight points, four ahead of Beijing Guoan who play Ulsan Hyundai later Wednesday.

Newcastle remain on four points.

Ogawa netted the winner in the 56th minute with a piece of neat finishing after he controlled a cross from winger Keita Sugimoto to drill home past Newcastle goalkeeper Ben Kennedy.

The Jets could have forced a draw but substitute striker Sasho Petrovski spurned a penalty attempt 12 minutes from time.

Kashima, meanwhile, adopted an aggressive three-forward system against the defensive Armed Forces, with Brazilian Marquinhos, Shinzo Koroki and Yuya Osako proving a formidable trio.

They got their opener on 28 minutes through a Takuya Nozawa header — the club’s 1,500th goal since its inception.

Koroki added a second seven minutes before the break and Mitsuo Ogasawara put the game beyond reach with a third early in the second half.

Osako bagged the fourth in the 54th minute and Koroki completed his brace with a powerful left-foot drive with 16 minutes left.

In west Asia, Uzbek powerhouse Pakhtakor and Al Ittihad, Saudi Arabia?s newly crowned champions, both have home matches as they bid to strengthen their positions at the top of Group A and Group C respectively.

Pakhtakor, who have seven points, host Saba Battery in Tashkent while Al Hilal play Al Ahli in Dubai. Hilal are on five points, Saba Battery have two and Ahli have one.

Al Ittihad, on seven points, host UAE’s Al Jazira who are five points behind them.

In the other group game, Umm Salal of Qatar visit the intimidating Azadi Stadium in Tehran to play Esteghlal, who are desperate for a win after picking up only one point so far.