Kudo's double keeps Kashiwa rolling

And despite Nilson pulling a goal back for Sagan with two minutes remaining, 10th place Kashiwa claimed all three points having drawn their previous two domestic outings.

Kudo is Kashiwa’s top scorer in both the J.League with 12 as well as the AFC Champions League having found the net on five occasions as Nelsinho Baptista’s side secured a place in the quarter-finals for the first time with an unbeaten record.

And following domestic outings against Oita Trinita and Vegalta Sendai over the next two weeks, Reysol will face Saudi Arabia’s Al Shabab in the first leg of their AFC Champions League tie on August 21 at Hitachi Kashiwa Stadium before travelling to Riyadh for the return fixture on September 18.