Holders Kashima Antlers succumbed to a second straight defeat in the Nabisco Cup on Sunday, suffering a 4-1 drubbing away at Vissel Kobe.
Vissel's Brazilian striker Pedro Junior scored a brace and set up another as Antlers, who lost their opening Group A game 2-1 at home to Ventforet Kofu four days ago, failed to make their chances count.
Vissel broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute, Pedro Junior firing into the bottom right-hand corner from inside the "D" after Masatoshi Mihara had dispossessed Gaku Shibasaki in the opposition half.