Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kawasaki: Shanghai SIPG got their 2018 AFC Champions League campaign off to a winning start on Tuesday, beating Kawasaki Frontale 1-0 in Japan.
While the hosts had more of the ball in the Group F encounter, a more direct approach ensured Vitor Pereira’s side left with all three points thanks to Elkeson’s 23rd-minute strike.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Kawasaki: Elkeson’s first half goal secured Shanghai SIPG a narrow 1-0 win over Japanese champions Kawasaki Frontale in their 2018 AFC Champions League Group F opener on Tuesday.
The Chinese Super League side took the lead in the 23rd minute when Elkeson brought down Yu Hai’s left-wing cross and fired across Jung Sung-ryong with the Kawasaki keeper’s low diving parry not enough to prevent the ball going into right-hand corner.
Just after the half-hour, Kengo Nakamura could have drawn the scores level but Yan Junling’s superb flying save kept out the veteran’s firm header as the visitors maintained their lead at the interval.
In the second half, Kawasaki went close to drawing level on 71 minutes through Akihiro Ienaga who blazed over when put through by Yoshito Okubo, while Brazilian star Hulk was inches wide just minutes later from a free-kick at the other end.
The J.League side continued in search of an equaliser as the match drew to a close but were unable to find the breakthrough, giving Vitor Pereira’s men all three points to kick off their continental campaign.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Melbourne: Melbourne Victory came from behind three times to share the points in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Ulsan Hyundai in their opening match of the 2018 AFC Champions League at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on Tuesday.
Kim Do-hoon’s men will rue a missed opportunity after taking the lead three times, but there were plenty of positives for the Korean side to take away from their trip to Melbourne.
Awesome Orsic
Mislav Orsic’s must have a fondness for playing against Australian teams, with his brace on Tuesday following another brace against Brisbane Roar last year.
Deployed as a left-winger in a 4-1-4-1 formation, Orsic stuck tight to the left touch line, as displayed by his heat map below, and gave a workout to both Kosta Barbarouses and Jason Geria on Melbourne Victory’s right-hand side.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Ibaraki: Gen Shoji insists that Kashima Antlers have their sights firmly set on winning the 2018 AFC Champions League ahead of the J.League side’s Group H opener against Shanghai Shenhua at Kashima Soccer Stadium on Wednesday.
Kashima progressed to the Round of 16 last year before being eliminated on away goals by China’s Guangzhou Evergrande as they failed, yet again, to reach the last eight of the continental competition.
The eight-time J.League champions have only once reached the quarter-finals, back in 2008, but defender Shoji believes Kashima can improve on their previous showings and follow in the footsteps of their domestic rivals and AFC Champions League holders Urawa Red Diamonds.