Nagoya Grampus notched its first AFC Champions League win of the season with a thumping 4-0 home victory over 10-man Al Ain.
Midfielder Mu Kanazawa scored twice to give the J-League champions a much-needed three points at the Mizuho Athletic Stadium, in a game rearranged from March 15 following Japan's devastating earthquake and tsunami.
The home side started brightly, with midfielder Yoshizumi Ogawa hitting the bar in the third minute before Kanazaki opened the scoring in the 27th minute - only Nagoya's second goal in this year's competition.
Al Ain came close to an immediate reply a minute later when an unmarked Elias received the ball just outside the box, but his shot sailed wide.
A Kanazaki header doubled Nagoya's lead in first-half injury time before Al Ain midfielder Brahima Keita turned the ball into his own net on 61 minutes.
There was more misery to come for the UAE side as defender Fares Al Saadi was sent off for bringing down Jungo Fujimoto just outside the area after 76 minutes.
The midfielder picked himself up to curl the resulting free kick left-footed into the net.
Next up for Nagoya is a testing trip to group leader Seoul, unbeaten in three Champions League fixtures so far this season, while Al Ain plays Hangzhou at home.
-AFP
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