Jubilo through to last four

A hat-trick by Masashi Nakayama helped fire 1999 Asian Club Champions Jubilo Iwata into the semi-finals of this year’s competition with an emphatic 6-2 mauling of China’s Shandong Luneng in the eastern quarter-finals.

Toshiya Fujita, Aleksander Zivkovic and Daisuke Oku were also on the scoresheet as the two-time J.League champions picked up their second win in a row after Wednesday’s victory over Suwon Bluewings.

With one round of matches left to go, when the group's two second-placed teams – Suwon and Shandong – meet, Jubilo are certain of a place in the last four for the third year in a row after winning the title in 1999 and finishing as runners-up last year.

However, in the opening half hour, Shandong had proven to be a match for Jubilo, with Ukrainian midfielder Serguei Nagorniak forcing Jubilo goalkeeper Arno van Zwam to touch the ball over th ebar after 12 minutes.

From the resultant corner, Li Ming’s downward header went just wide as Shadong threatened an upset.

Jubilo took the lead in the 29th minute when Toshiya Fujita struck from the penalty spot after a series of errors by the Shandong defence following an incident that dramatically altered the destiny of the game.

Bedlam ensued as the Japanese side broke out of defence, Masashi Nakayama laying the ball off to Daisuke Oku, whose through-ball intended for Nobuo Kawaguchi was marginally over-hit.

But the right wing-back refused to give up as the ball rolled through to Shandong goalkeeper Zhang Pengsheng, forcing him to lose possession before sliding the ball to Nakayama, who shot goalwards.

With Zhang struggling back onto his line, defender Shu Chong dived to his right to keep the ball out, succeeding in the task but earning himself a red card and giving Jubilo the penalty which Fujita netted, beating the goalkeeper to his right.

That should have made the night’s work comfortable for Jubilo but just five minutes later Shandong were level after a dreadful mistake by Taikai Uemoto gifted possession to Paraguayan Casiano, who scored from 20 yards out.

But two goals in a minute by Nakayama as the half came to a close gave Jubilo breathing room.

The Japanese international’s first came three minutes from half-time after another well-weighted pass by Oku sent Aleksander Zivkovic into the penalty area, who pulled the ball back for Nakayama to score.

Less than 60 seconds later the result was put beyond doubt when a poor clearance by the Shadong defence fell at the feet of Fujita 20 yards from goal and he set up Nakayama for his third goal in two games.

The 32-year-old World Cup veteran wasn’t finished there, though.

Shandong’s 10 men were struggling to contain the energetic Jubilo in the humidity and it was only 11 minutes before Nakayama completed his hat-trick, running on to a slide-rule pass by Oku before shooting right footed across goal and in past Zhang off the keeper’s right post.

Then, in the 66th minute, the 1999 champions earned a second penalty when Shingo Kumbayashi, a substitute for Kawaguchi, was brought down by Jose Oscar Herrera and Zivkovic scored from the spot.

Still Jubilo came forward and with 12 minutes they scored a sixth. Another great run by Nakayama was met by the perfect pass by Fujita before Nakayama cut the ball back across goal; Zivkovic stepped over it and Oku struck, right-footed, from the edge of the area.

Shadong did earn a late consolation, Li Xiaopeng’s injury-time free-kick being deflected home, but the night still belonged to Jubilo.

from AFC website