Vissel Kobe Tops Ulsan HD in AFC Champions League Clash

KOBE, Japan (AP) — Vissel Kobe defeated Ulsan HD 1-0 in a tense AFC Champions League match on Wednesday, moving to the top of the East zone standings. The Brazilian midfielder scored the only goal just before the hour mark against the two-time champions, who fell to fourth place.

Vissel’s coach Takayuki Yoshida praised his team’s performance, noting, “We played soccer that is typical of Kobe. We got the goal we needed and while we were pushed back at the end, the whole team was able to unite and defend and we took the points. There is still a long way to go.”

In another match, Malaysia‘s Johor Darul Ta'zim secured a 3-1 victory over Shanghai Shenhua, pushing them into third place. Meanwhile, the Chinese teams are struggling, with Shenhua, Shanghai Port, and Chengdu Rongcheng occupying the bottom three positions in the 12-team group.

The 24 teams in the tournament are divided into two geographic zones, with the top eight from each advancing to the knockout stage. The match marks a significant moment in the tournament as the teams push for the top spots.

In Asia’s second-tier tournament, Al Nassr from Saudi Arabia continued its dominant run by defeating India’s FC Goa 4-0, maintaining a perfect record in Group D. The Riyadh team showcased its strength with two goals from Abdulrahman Ghareeb, indicating that even resting key players did not diminish their performance.

As the tournament progresses, teams will have to navigate both regional rivalries and the demands of their respective domestic leagues.