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Kawasaki hopeful for quarter-final after sinking Muangthong in first-leg

Kawasaki Frontale earned a huge first-leg lead following their 3-1 win over Muangthong United in the Round of 16 of the AFC Champions League on Tuesday.

The Japanese club came back from a goal down to score three in the second half, which gives them a commanding lead going into the second leg.

The first half started as a cagey affair at the SCG Stadium in Nonthaburi, as both teams valued possession over attack.

Teerasil Dangda scored the opening goal in the very last minute of the first half. The experienced striker found space in the box, turned and fired to find the bottom right-hand corner.

Kawasaki drastically improved in the second half and their attacking ways paid off in the 66th minute, when defender Shintaro Kurumaya put Kengo Nakamura in space and he found the equalizer.

Substitute Yu Kobayashi gave Kawasaki the lead with a powerful volley after a superb ball from midfielder Akihiro Ienaga.

Kobayashi turned from scorer to provider as he set up Hiroyuki Abe to top off a great performance away from home by Kawasaki.

The Japanese outfit host the second leg at the Todoroki Athletics Stadium on Kawasaki on 30 May.