Josh Kennedy got the night off to a great start for Nagoya Grampus but it was to no avail in last night's Asian Champions League semi-final.

The Australian international opened the scoring in the first leg with a 15th minute goal despite Grampus already begin down to ten men after Akira Takeuchi was sent packing early.

After going up 1-0, the Japanese outfit then found themselves on level terms when Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad hit back ten minutes after Kennedy netted.

Less than ten minutes after that, Grampus hit the lead again, this time through Naoshi Nakamura but it was the last time they experienced any joy as the Saudis turned it on and eventually romped home 6-2.

Mohammed Noor hit a second-half hat-trick as Grampus self-destructed, making the task in front of them in the second leg at home almost impossible.