SAITAMA - Urawa Red Diamonds proved too strong for SCG Muang Thong United as the Japanese side hammered the Thai Premier League champions 4-1 in the AFC Champions League on Tuesday.
At Saitama Stadium, goals from Yousuke Kashiwagi (8), Kunimitsu Sekiguchi (65) and Genki Haraguchi (69, 78) finished off Muang Thong, who were reduced to 10 men. Dagno Siaka scored a consolation for the visitors just before the final whistle.
Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds forward Shinzoh Kohrogi, left, competes for the ball against SCG Muang Thong United forward Kim Yoo-Jin, right, duirng the AFC Champions League group F match in Saitama on Tuesday. AFP Photo.
In the other Group F match, South Korea's Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors drew 1-1 with China Guangzhou Evergrande.
Guangzhou, who beat Urawa in their opening match, lead the group with four points. Urawa have three points, Jeonbuk two and Muang Thong one.
After losing 3-0 at Guangzhou, Urawa needed a win to stay in contention and they got off to a fast start against Muang Thong, who were held to a 2-2 draw by Jeonbuk in their previous game.
Kashiwagi gave the home team the lead after eight minutes when he beat Muang Thong's stand-in goalkeeper Weera Kerdputsa, who replaced Thailand international Kawin Thamsatchanan who is out for months with injuries.
The Kirins were reduced to 10 men when Piyaphol Buntao received his second yellow card after 30 minutes.
It was one-way traffic in the second half and the Red Diamonds made it 2-0 through Sekiguchi after 65 minutes.
Substitute Haraguchi then scored twice before Siaka salvaged some pride for the Thai team in the final minute.
In Group E, Thai FA Cup champions Buriram United drew 0-0 at home with South Korea's FC Seoul.
Buriram, who drew 1-1 at Japan's Vegalta Sendai in their opening match, dominated for long periods but failed to break FC Seoul's gritty defence.
K-League champions FC Seoul lead Group E with four points after a 5-1 win against China's Jiangsu Sainty in their first game.
Buriram have two points, while Jiangsu host Sendai later on Tuesday.