KASHIMA, Japan (Interstat) — Kashima Antlers scored in the fifth minute and went on to beat V-Varen Nagasaki 2-0 on Saturday at Kashima Soccer Stadium. Aleksandar Cavric supplied the opening goal, giving the home side the lead before Nagasaki had settled into the match. Kashima protected the advantage, kept Nagasaki off the scoreboard and added a second goal to secure the result. The home side’s early breakthrough set the tone for a match in which V-Varen Nagasaki was forced to chase from behind. Kashima’s defense held firm over the closing stretch. The Antlers’ first goal came early enough to shape the contest, and the home side maintained control through the opening half. V-Varen Nagasaki remained without a win in the competition.

Cavric’s fifth-minute goal was the defining moment of the first half. Kashima pressed early and converted the chance, forcing Nagasaki to chase the match. Cavric played 72 minutes before being substituted, and his goal stood as the game’s first key contribution. Leo Ceara, who played 85 minutes, also scored for Kashima. Haruki Hayashu recorded an assist in 90 minutes. The Antlers’ attacking work was supported by a defense that kept V-Varen Nagasaki from finding a response. Kashima held its lead through halftime and continued to limit Nagasaki’s space after the break. Nagasaki’s defense had to respond repeatedly, and Kashima’s midfield protected the lead by keeping the visitors away from the final third.

V-Varen Nagasaki’s attempts to climb back into the match were complicated by discipline issues. Matsumoto T. received a yellow card in the 23rd minute. Jonathan Junior was booked in the 43rd minute, and Yasuda K. was shown a yellow card in the 82nd minute. The cards disrupted Nagasaki’s rhythm and limited its ability to sustain pressure as the visitors searched for a goal. Kashima, meanwhile, used substitutions to manage the second half and protect its advantage. Nagasaki kept working through midfield changes, but the visitors could not produce a goal that would have changed the match.

Kashima made a change at halftime, bringing on Omori S. Elber entered in the 55th minute. Cavric and Shibasaki G. were substituted in the 72nd minute, and Leo Ceara came off in the 85th minute. V-Varen Nagasaki made its first substitution in the 54th minute when Matsumoto T. came off. Arai I. and Jonathan Junior entered in the 67th minute, and Masuyama A. and Yamaguchi H. entered in the 85th minute. The changes gave Nagasaki fresh legs, but the visitors could not turn possession into a goal. Kashima’s late substitutions helped the home side close out the match without conceding.

The result moved Kashima Antlers to 2-0-0 in this competition and 3-0-0 across all competitions. V-Varen Nagasaki fell to 0-1-1 in the competition and 0-3-1 across all competitions. Kashima entered after a 1-0 win at Cong An Ha Noi and a 2-0 home win over Gamba Osaka. Nagasaki entered after a draw at Chiba, a loss at Shimizu S-Pulse and a loss at Gainare Tottori. Those earlier results gave both sides different forms entering the match, but Kashima’s home performance produced the only goals of the night. Kashima’s record in the competition remained perfect after the home victory, while Nagasaki’s search for a first win continued.

Kashima’s scoring came from Cavric and Leo Ceara, with Hayashu providing an assist. Cavric’s goal arrived in the fifth minute, and Kashima never trailed. Nagasaki’s best response came through sustained possession, but the visitors were unable to break through. The three yellow cards against Nagasaki marked a difficult night for the visitors, who also used all five of their substitutions. Kashima made five changes of its own as it protected the two-goal lead. The game’s key performances, in descending order, were Cavric’s goal in 72 minutes, Leo Ceara’s goal in 85 minutes and Hayashu’s assist in 90 minutes.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 1-1 final score. Its ELO system had projected Kashima Antlers with an 88.8 percent probability to win.