Kashima Antlers reached nine points from a possible nine in the AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27 by beating Pohang Steelers 3-0 on 28 October at Kashima Soccer Stadium in Japan. The matchday-three fixture was goalless at halftime and decided in the second half. Across this continental edition, Kashima have three wins, 11 goals scored, one conceded and a +10 goal difference.
Ryuta Koike opened the scoring in the 69th minute, Aleksandar Čavrić added a second in the 75th, and Matheus Bueno completed the scoring in the 88th. This sequence explains the shift from 0-0 at halftime to 3-0 without making an unsupported claim that Kashima dominated the full 90 minutes.
The three results behind the nine points
Official AFC results and the club fixture list establish the record from the first three East Region league-stage matchdays only:
| Date | Matchday | Fixture | Score | Cumulative points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15/09/2026 | 1 | Kashima Antlers x Newcastle Jets | 7-1 | 3 |
| 13/10/2026 | 2 | Cong An Ha Noi x Kashima Antlers | 0-1 | 6 |
| 28/10/2026 | 3 | Kashima Antlers x Pohang Steelers | 3-0 | 9 |
Each win brought three points: 3 after the opener, 6 after matchday two and 9 after matchday three. Kashima played twice at home and once away in this sample.
How the 3-0 win unfolded after halftime
- 69th minute: Ryuta Koike steered Matheus Bueno’s cross into the net with his chest, according to Reuters.
- 75th minute: Aleksandar Čavrić scored at the second attempt after his first effort struck the post.
- 88th minute: Matheus Bueno finished from close range to make the final score 3-0.
The AFC confirms the three scorers and goal times. The opening two goals came six minutes apart; the third arrived late in the match.
What the figures show and what they do not
The results add up to 7 + 1 + 3 = 11 goals for and 1 + 0 + 0 = 1 against. That makes the goal difference +10, with two clean sheets. Seven of the eleven goals came in the Newcastle Jets opener alone, so that match has a particularly large influence on Kashima’s attacking total.
The points return is 100% across the three fixtures played. This describes the continental start, not an established trend for the entire season. It excludes J1 League, the Emperor’s Cup and every other competition. Reuters also reported recent domestic struggles, context that does not change the nine Asian competition points.
What remains in the league stage
The AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27 league stage has 16 East Region clubs, with eight fixtures per team. The top eight advance to the round of 16. Having played three matches, Kashima still have five to go, and nine points do not yet guarantee qualification.
In the 28 October check, the AFC listed Kashima and Vissel Kobe on maximum points after three games. Kashima’s official schedule sets an away match at Buriram United for 4 November. The next result may change their position in the regional standings.
Sources and references
- AFC: Kashima 7-1 Newcastle Jets, matchday one (15 September 2026)
- AFC: Cong An Ha Noi 0-1 Kashima, matchday two (October 2026)
- AFC: Kashima 3-0 Pohang Steelers, matchday three (28 October 2026)
- Reuters, by Michael Church, published by The Star on 28 October 2026
- Kashima Antlers: official 2026/27 fixtures and results
- J.League: AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27 format and ranking rules
