Kashima Antlers defeat Newcastle Jets 7-1 in ACL Elite opener

Kashima Antlers secured a dominant 7-1 victory against Australia's Newcastle Jets in their opening match of the 2026-27 AFC Champions League Elite. Aleksandar Cavric led the scoring with a first-half hat-trick, supported by goals from Homare Tokuda, Kyosuke Tagawa, and Ryoya Ogawa, alongside an own goal by James Delianov.

Despite the massive team scoreline, Kashima's star forward Yuma Suzuki remained without a goal in his recent official appearances. Suzuki expressed his frustration regarding his scoring drought but emphasized his commitment to the team's tactical growth and his focus on improving his positioning to find the net again.

The Newcastle Jets, representing Australia in the competition, struggled to contain Kashima's pressure, with Patrick Wood scoring a late consolation goal in the 79th minute. The match marks a significant return to Asian continental competition for Kashima Antlers.