Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Ibaraki: A late show featuring goals from Yojiro Takahagi and Mark Bridge saw Western Sydney Wanderers kick off the defence of their AFC Champions League crown on Wednesday with a 3-1 win over Kashima Antlers in Group H of the 2015 continental championship.
Former Sanfrecce Hiroshima midfielder Takahagi poked the ball home in the 86th minute to put Western Sydney in front and Bridge sealed the win three minutes into stoppage time as the A-League side started where they left off in 2014.
Kashima defender Gen Shoji had put the holders in front with an own goal in the 54th minute only for Shoma Doi to level for the J.League side just after the midway point of the second half.
But a dramatic finish saw Western Sydney take the win despite fielding a side that featured just four of the players who started either leg of their AFC Champions League final victory over Al Hilal last season, with Dean Bouzanis taking the berth between the posts with Ante Covic not included in the squad.
Match reaction: ‘Fantastic achievement’ as Wanderers hit the ground running
Nikolai Topor-Stanley captained the team while Antony Golec, Shannon Cole and Mark Bridge all retained their places, with Japanese duo Yusuke Tanaka and Takahagi also selected.
Kashima started strongly, with Doi seeing his third minute effort drift just wide from long range while Bouzanis was a full stretch to deny Shuto Yamamoto four minutes later.
Western Sydney were sluggish, with only Tomi Juric causing any problems in the first half when he evaded the defence before sending over a low cross that was deflected to safety after 15 minutes.
Wanderers were hit by the loss of Cole midway through the half when he was replaced by Labinot Haliti after sustaining a shoulder injury.
Bouzanis was on hand to deny Kashima again just before the half hour mark when he dropped down to keep out Hiroyuki Takasaki’s effort while, a minute into stoppage time, the Japanese side should have gone ahead, only for Shuto Yamamoto to miss with the goal at his mercy.
Having endured a lacklustre opening 45 minutes, Wanderers started well in the second period. Juric caused problems down the right before sending over a low cross that Daigo Nishi managed to clear.
By the ninth minute of the half, though, the Australian side were in front. A long throw from Golec was headed on by Juric, leaving Bridge to shoot goalward and Shoji to poke the ball over his own goal line.
Within 14 minutes, Antlers were level when Doi volleyed home from eight yards out after a fine run down the left by Caio opened up the Wanderers defence.
But, with game looking set for a draw, Wanderers went back in front when Takahagi reacted quickest to direct Bridge’s off-target shot beyond Hitoshi Sogahata and into the back of the net before Bridge completed the scoring with a fine finish three minutes into stoppage time.
Photo: WSG