Kashima Antlers will have the chance to defend their Asian Champions League title after qualifying for the continental club tournament with a 4-1 demolition of Australian side Newcastle Jets on Tuesday.
Brazilian forward Serginho scored a second-half brace in the ACL playoff at Kashima Stadium after the J. League side took a 2-1 lead into the break.
Forward Sho Ito put Antlers ahead in the 18th minute, but Venezuelan striker Ronny Vargas struck back for the visitors just five minutes later.