Former Japan striker Atsushi Yanagisawa scored twice as Vegalta Sendai maintained their grip on the J. League's top spot on Saturday with a 4-1 thrashing of rock bottom Consadole Sapporo.
Victory kept Sendai two points clear of second-place Sanfrecce Hiroshima, who whipped Cerezo Osaka 4-1 away, Naoki Ishihara grabbing a late brace for the visitors as league action resumed after the international break.
"We wanted to restart with a bang," said Sendai coach Makoto Teguramori, whose side had gone into the international break on the back of a 3-2 defeat to Kawasaki Frontale.