Iniesta inspires Vissel Kobe

Andres Iniesta was in dazzling form on Wednesday as the former Barcelona midfielder drove Vissel Kobe to a 5-1 thrashing of Malaysia's Johor Darul Ta'zim in the Japanese club's first-ever appearance in the Asian Champions League.

Keijiro Ogawa scored a hat-trick with Kyogo Furuhashi and Brazilian striker Douglas also on target, but it was the Spanish World Cup winner who stole the show in the Group G clash with a vintage performance at the heart of Thorsten Fink's side.

Iniesta rolled back the years with a midfield masterclass, setting up Ogawa's first with a perfectly weighted pass from inside his own half that allowed his team mate to lift the ball over goalkeeper Farizal Marlias.

JDT levelled through Safawi Rasid's penalty in the 27th minute after Thomas Vermaelen handled, but Vissel were back in front a minute later when Furuhashi stroked his effort home from outside the area.

Iniesta pulled the strings for Vissel's third in the 58th minute as Ogawa scored again while Douglas outmuscled the defence four minutes later to claim the fourth.

The Spaniard was at his most audacious in setting up Ogawa's third, lifting the ball invitingly towards the far post for the forward to head into an empty goal.