The first leg of the AFC Champions League Round of 16 took place on Wednesday night, with Kashima Antlers defeating Shanghai SIPG at Kashima Stadium.
After 43 minutes, Yuma Suzuki opened the game up when he scored off a corner kick. Soon after half-time it was Daigo Nishi who doubled the lead after another corner kick, leading to a period of sustained Shanghai pressure.
A 75th-minute own goal handed Antlers a 3-0 advantage. Elkenson scored a minute later to give Shanghai a potentially key away goal, but the match eventually ended in a 3-1 result for the hosts.
The return leg will take place on May 16 in Shanghai as Antlers hunt their first quarterfinal appearance in 10 years.