Brandon Borrello became the first A-League player to slot home four goals in an AFC Champions League match as Brisbane Roar easily accounted for Filipino outfit Global FC 6-0 at Suncorp Stadium on Tuesday night.
Spaniard Manuel Arana also scored a brace in the preliminary playoff match, as he finally broke his duck at the Roar.
With the comprehensive triumph, the Roar set up a do-or-die clash with Carlos Tevez's Shanghai Shenhua in China next Wednesday for the final stage of qualification.
The flogging also marked the biggest win by an A-League club in an ACL playoff or group match, eclipsing Western Sydney's 5-0 defeat of Guizhou Renhe in 2014.
However, it may have come at a cost, with young forward Joseph Katebian forced from the field in the 26th minute after a sickening clash with Global goalkeeper Patrick Deyto.
The pair collided as they fought for a lofted Corey Brown cross, Katebian suffering a suspected concussion after his head was collected by the goalkeeper's ribs in his first starting appearance.
He was taken from the field with a bloodied nose and an injured left shoulder, while Borrello seized on the loose ball to have his second after he opened the scoring in the 12th minute courtesy of a deflection.
Borrello then had his third four minutes later, completing his hat trick within the opening half hour when he jumped on a free ball inside the area after Arana had the ball taken from his feet in front.
The 21-year-old put the icing on the cake for the Roar in the 80th minute, wrong-footing the Global FC defence to seal victory in front of only 3,567 fans.
Meanwhile, Arana scored his first two goals in Brisbane colours either side of half-time.
After he captailised on a Brown cross in the 37th minute to make the score 4-0 at the break, he claimed his second in the 65th as the Roar aim for their third entry into the tournament's main draw.
Global FC, who became the first Filipino side to notch an ACL win when they downed Tampines Rovers last week in the opening preliminary round of qualifiers, weren't without their chances though.
They had the best opportunities early and late in the match, and could have considered themselves unlucky not to have a penalty in the 22nd minute as Jade North appeared to have handballed in the box as the visitors pressed for two quick shots on goal.