Mu Kanazaki recorded his first international goal as Japan defeated 2018 World Cup qualification rivals Singapore 3-0 on Thursday, putting them clear at the top of Group E.

The Samurai Blue found a Singapore side attempting to repeat their successful attempts to stifle their illustrious opponents, and took the game to them.

Unlike their 0-0 draw in Saitama, however, Japan were able to find the breakthrough this time, with Yoshinori Muto teeing up Mu Kanazaki to open the scoring  in the 20th minute.

After delivering the corner that led to the opener, Keisuke Honda found himself on the scoresheet himself to double the lead, as his effort took a deflection past Izwan Mahbud six minutes later.

Vahid Halilhodzic’s men then enjoyed a comfortable finish to the game, Maya Yoshida ending the hosts’ resistance with a precise volley to make the score 3-0 right after Takashi Usami saw his header cleared off the line.

Japan leapfrogged Syria at the top of Group E with the result, and will now be looking to extend their lead when they take on bottom-dwellers Cambodia next Tuesday.