Kashiwa Reysol 5-1 Binh Duong

Two goals late in the first half – from Kudo and an own goal by David Vrankovic – sent Reysol on their way to the win before efforts from Kim Chang-soo, Kudo and Hidekazu Otani ensured the 2013 semi-finalists claimed all three points.

Reysol, who kicked off their campaign with a draw against Jeonbuk Motors on Matchday One, were rarely troubled by a Binh Duong side who battled hard despite the gulf in class before claiming a late consolation through Ganiyu Bolaji Oseni.

Kashiwa were quick out of the blocks and Cristiano should have scored just four minutes into the game when he had time and space behind the Binh Duong defence to do better than fire over the bar, while four minutes later Yuki Otsu sent his effort wide from six yards out.

Otsu tried his luck from long range in the 12th minute as Reysol cruised through the opening phase of the game, with only Le Cong Vinh presenting any threat for the Vietnamese when his free kick was collected by Takanori Sugeno in the home side’s goal.

Reysol, though, continued to dictate the tempo of the game; Kudo’s header was weak and straight at Nguyen Quoc Thien Esele in the 25th minute while Eduardo should have scored when the goalkeeper dropped the ball at his feet, only to stab over the bar.

With six minutes to go and against the run of play, Cong Vinh created the best chance of the half but his curling effort from just inside the Reysol half was deflected wide of goal.

That finally nudged Reysol out of their slumber in front of goal and, in the 43rd minute, Kudo put the home side in front with a crisp finish to the goalkeeper’s left after a low, firm cross from the right by Cristiano.

Two minutes later, Tatsumi Yoshida’s team doubled their lead when Vrankovic headed into his own goal, ensuring the scoreline better reflected Reysol’s dominance.

Nguyen Thanh Son introduced Mai Tien Thanh at the start of the second half as the Binh Duong coach sought a way back into the game and, eight minutes after the restart, he went close to opening the Vietnamese side’s account, only for the midfielder’s spectacular effort to cannon back off the cross bar.

But the result was put beyond any doubt three minutes later when Kim Chang-soo latched onto Akimi Barada’s perfectly weighted through ball before slotting home.

Kudo claimed his second of the game with a close range header in the 67th minute after Otsu glanced Barada’s corner across the face of goal while, eight minutes later, Otani found the back of the net when his shot from outside the area was deflected past substitute goalkeeper Bui Tan Truong.

Oseni pulled one back for Binh Duong nine minutes from time when he was played in on goal by a well-placed pass from Cong Vinh before sliding a fine finish beyond Sugeno, but it was not enough to spark an unlikely revival.

Report: http://www.the-afc.com
Picture: World Sport Group