Kyogo Furuhashi has been one of the best players in the MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE all season, so it was only fitting that he was the star as Vissel Kobe dominated Yokohama FC, 5-0, to move into the top four of the table.

The Japan international scored a hat trick, showing off dazzling skill, blazing speed and brilliant movement in a total performance for his 11th, 12th, and 13th goals of the campaign to make him the league’s leading scorer.

Furuhashi’s first goal came with the help of Andrés Iniesta, whose sweet chip found Furuashi in behind the Yokohama defense. The striker brought the ball down with one touch, then used the outside of his boot to finish with his next touch for a delectable goal.

Next, Furuhashi made a hard run at the goalmouth, where he had to hold off a defender and finish a cross from Hotaru Yamaguchi that was a little behind him for a tough goal that tied him with Anderson Lopes and Leandro Damião atop the league’s goalscoring chart.

Finally, Furuhashi took the league lead in goals all by himself by out-running the entire Yokohama defense to a through ball and finishing clinically.

Vissel Kobe are now sitting fourth in the table - occupying the last AFC Champions League place and on-pace for a club-record finish. With Furuhashi on this form, the second half of the season could be something special for Vissel.