J.League Cup wrap: Cerezo, Vegalta breeze into quarters

Cerezo Osaka have stormed into the quarter-finals of the J.League Cup with an emphatic 5-0 win over Sagan Tosu.

Yoichiro Kakitani scored twice for Cerezo as they destroyed Sagan on Wednesday.

Takahiro Ogihara opened the scoring for Cerezo in the 24th minute before Kim Bo-Kyung added a second goal from the spot in first-half injury time.

Kakitani scored his two goals after the break before Kota Fujimoto completed the rout in the 90th minute.

The win ensured Cerezo finished as Group A winners, ahead of Vegalta Sendai, who jumped into second place with a 4-0 thrashing of Jubilo Iwata.

Cerezo face defending champions Kashima Antlers in the last eight, while Sendai will take on Tokyo.

Kashima progressed thanks to a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Shimizu S-Pulse with Yuya Osako scoring both goals for Antlers.

However, both clubs finished in the top two in Group B, meaning they will play in the quarter-finals.

Other Group B matches on Wednesday saw Vissel Kobe edge Yokohama F Marinos 3-2, and Albirex Niigata overcome Omiya Ardija 4-3.

The top-two clubs from each group have been joined in the J.League Cup quarter-finals by Japan’s four AFC Champions League qualifiers.

Shimizu will take on Nagoya Grampus in their knockout tie, while the fourth quarter-final pits Kashiwa Reysol against Gamba Osaka.