Koya Yuruki, right, of Urawa Reds celebrates after opening the scoring during the first half of a J-League first division match against Kashiwa Reysol on Oct. 22, 2021, at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, near Tokyo. (Kyodo)

       TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Koya Yuruki struck a pair of early goals Friday as Urawa Reds outclassed Kashiwa Reysol 5-1 in the J-League first division.

       Ricardo Rodriguez's side kept their sights on a top-three finish with the overwhelming victory, netting four before halftime at rain-soaked Saitama Stadium.

       Yuruki slotted the opener in the 15th minute and scored his brace eight minutes later, moments after Takahiro Sekine had given Urawa a 2-0 lead from the penalty spot.

       Matheus Savio pulled a goal back for the visitors before Kasper Junker extended the lead on a breakaway in the final minute of the half. Ataru Esaka rounded out the scoring in the 59th minute with his fourth J1 goal in five games.

       Urawa tore apart the Kashiwa defense on their opening goal, with Esaka threading a long, diagonal pass along the deck to Junker, whose square ball found Yuruki at the right of the area. The 26-year-old midfielder played a perfect first touch, firing into the net across Reysol goalkeeper Kim Seung Gyu.

       The South Korean keeper was continually left exposed by his backline, with a botched clearance gifting Yuruki the opportunity for his second.

       The Reds defense was guilty of poor marking on Matheus' 33rd minute header, but the goal was only small consolation for manager Nelsinho's men, who have just one win from their past five league matches.

       The result moved Urawa one spot up to fourth, while Reysol remained 13th.

       Font Size S M L Print Timeline 0