Albirex Niigata (S) are on course to defend their Singapore League Cup crown after thrashing an under-strength Tampines Rovers 4-0 in their semifinal at Jurong East Stadium on Tuesday night.
Top scorer Atsushi Kawata ran the show with a hat trick within 73 minutes, before substitute Tatsuro Inui put the icing on the cake late on.
The White Swans will meet Brunei DPMM in the Cup final on Saturday night after the Wasps edged Home United 1-0 in the other semi, courtesy of Rafael Ramazotti's first-half goal.
Against Tampines, Albirex were dominant in the first half, but only had one goal to show for. The opener came in the 32nd minute, with Kawata connecting well with Masaya Jitozono's deep free kick into the area to head past Tampines goalkeeper Joey Sim.
The Stags did well to recover early in the second half and almost levelled matters on 57 minutes. Billy Mehmet went through on goal via Jordan Webb's lobbed pass, but found his fierce drive denied at point-blank range by Albirex custodian Yosuke Nozawa.
Tampines lived to rue that missed opportunity as Albirex doubled their advantage 11 minutes later. Sizing up his options after receiving the ball 30 yards from goal, Kawata duly unleashed a stunning effort that swerved past a bewildered Sim.
The 24-year-old wrapped up his hat trick in the 73rd minute as he rose well to head home Jitozono's teasing cross in from the right.
The rout was completed three minutes from time, with Inui latching on to yet another delightful Jitozono lobbed ball before firing in off the bar from 15 yards out.
Tampines coach Akbar Nawas was gracious in defeat as he tipped the victors to go on to lift a second successive League Cup trophy.
"Albirex have to be the favourites to win it," said the 41-year-old. "They defend and attack as a team; they work very hard in transition.
"The defeat is slightly harsh on us and we're missing many national team players [plus injured ex-Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant], but let's not take anything away from Albirex. We didn't do well enough to stop the gaps and the ball from coming through.
"Nonetheless, I'm happy that the youngsters stepped up in this tournament. Last year, we played a full team but did not even get out of the group stage."
Albirex counterpart Naoki Naruo was pleased with his side's convincing victory, but refused to acknowledge the favourites' tag.
"The players did well tonight. Kawata scored a hat trick and showed very good performance," he said. "I've been telling him that he needs to be the top scorer and the teammates are helping him to score.
"We want to win the Cup, but this is football. We're not sure of the result yet, but right now our team motivation is very good."
Albirex Niigata (S): Yosuke Nozawa (GK), Hiroyoshi Kamata (Tomoki Menda 54'), Mikiya Yamada, Kento Fujihara, Kazuki Mine, Naofumi Tanaka (C), Shuto Inaba, Masaya Jitozono (Tadaaki Yazawa 89'), Kento Nagasaki, Atsushi Kawata (Tatsuro Inui 77'), Rui Kumada
Tampines Rovers: Joey Sim (GK), Ismadi Mukhtar, Jufri Taha, Mustafic Fahrudin (C) (Shafie Muliantoh 77'), Irwan Shah, Noh Rahman, Fabian Kwok, Gautam Selvamany (Haiqal Sulaiman 60'), Jordan Webb, Saifullah Akbar, Billy Mehmet