FREIBURG, Germany - Japan attacker Yuito Suzuki scored a goal and set up another as Freiburg swept Genk aside 5-1 at home in the Europa League round of 16 second leg on Thursday, going through 5-2 on aggregate.
On the day he got his first Japan call-up in half a year ahead of their away friendlies against Scotland and England this month, Suzuki made his presence felt against Genk who had his fellow national team attacker Junya Ito coming off the bench in the 69th minute.
After Freiburg led 2-1 at the break to bring the overall score level, Vincenzo Grifo capitalized on a misplaced pass in the Genk backline to give the German side a 3-2 lead on aggregate in the 53rd minute.
Suzuki stretched his side's lead four minutes later by drilling home low to cap a well-worked two-man counter from inside his own half with Johan Manzambi, before his layoff set up Maximilian Eggestein to slot home the last goal of the tie in the 79th minute.
"I've been keeping in mind to be calm and create time before taking shots," the summer signing from Brondby said after helping his new club reach this stage of the competition for the first time.
"Now I sense I can really play (at this level). I've been getting that confidence since arriving at this club, and I'll look to display that to the fullest (in Japan friendlies)."
In the Europa Conference League round of 16, Daichi Kamada's low right-wing cross was swept home by Ismaila Sarr for the 99th-minute extra-time winner as Crystal Palace beat 10-man AEK Larnaca 2-1 in the second leg away from home following a goalless first leg.
