Japan midfielder Daichi Kamada scored his season's fourth German Bundesliga goal and set up another Saturday as Eintracht Frankfurt cruised to a 3-1 win at Stuttgart.
Kamada's 55th-minute free-kick from the edge of the box took a slight deflection on its way in for a 2-0 lead before the playmaker set up Kristijan Jakic's header from a corner two minutes from time at Mercedes-Benz Arena.
"When I'm on a run of getting goals and assists, they somehow go in," Kamada said after matching his goal total from 32 league games last season. "I want to score as many as possible while I can."
"They don't lead to goals when I become too greedy. They turn into goals and assists when I take them without thinking."
Kamada also played a part in Frankfurt's sixth-minute opener as his free-kick was saved into the path of Sebastian Rode, who headed home the rebound. He played the entire game alongside former Japan captain Makoto Hasebe, who made his first start of the season in the center of three-man defense.
"We prepared well, so it was good for the team to get the win," the 38-year-old said. "As players around me have the ability to play aggressively, I'm on the lookout for loose balls while providing cover when opponents get past them."
Japan midfielder Wataru Endo and defender Hiroki Ito played the whole match for Stuttgart.
In Belgium, Japan forward Ayase Ueda scored his second goal of the season as Cercle Brugge drew 2-2 at home with Oostende. Ueda guided his shot past the keeper from close range a minute from the break to give his side a 2-0 lead.
Former Japan forward Shinji Okazaki scored his first goal for Sint-Truiden in a 3-0 away victory against 10-man Zulte Waregem, netting the second with a trademark diving header in the 50th minute.
