In the latest round of the prestigious AFC Champions League Elite, Japanese teams Vissel Kobe and Yokohama F. Marinos bounced back from disappointing starts to their campaigns. Vissel Kobe secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Shandong Taishan, while Yokohama F. Marinos thrashed Ulsan Hyundai 4-0.
Vissel Kobe’s win was far from straightforward, with the match marred by controversy in the closing stages. After taking the lead through Taisei Miyashiro’s header, the visitors equalized before GÅtoku Sakai scored the winner with a deflected effort. However, the real drama unfolded when a brutal challenge sparked a melee involving both benches, resulting in the visiting coach being sent off.
Despite the chaos, Vissel Kobe showed professionalism in managing the game and avoiding further conflict. Sakai, the hero on the scoresheet, also demonstrated maturity by urging his teammates to leave the field quickly and avoid further drama.
In contrast, Yokohama F. Marinos’ victory was a more straightforward affair. They took control of the game from the start, with Kota Watanabe scoring in the fourth minute. Takuma Nishimura doubled their advantage before halftime, and Marinos sealed the win with two late counter-attacks, finished off by Anderson Lopes and Kota Mizunuma.
While both teams stumbled in their opening matches, they have now regained momentum and will look to build on these victories in the upcoming rounds of the AFC Champions League Elite.
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