After their 2-1 loss to Muangthong United a fortnight ago, Yuma Suzuki’s sweetly-struck volley from Yukitoshi Ito’s cross had given the Japanese champions the lead with three minutes of the first half remaining at Kashima Soccer Stadium. And although Brisbane battled back in the second half, defender Naomichi Ueda bundled home from a corner with 14 minutes remaining before Yasushi Endo put an end to the visitors’ slim hopes of a comeback by adding his team’s third when he rifled his shot from inside the area across ‘keeper Jamie Young into the far corner of the net shortly after.
