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Kuroda proud as Machida achieve target

Kuroda proud as Machida achieve target

Shanghai: FC Machida Zelvia’s fairy-tale debut in the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ continues as the Japanese side secured qualification to the Round of 16 with head coach Go Kuroda expressing his delight at the achievement.
Machida capped an impressive continental debut with a 2-0 against China PR’s Shanghai Shenhua FC on Tuesday to take them up 14 points, with Kuroda pinpointing Yuki Soma’s third minute opener from the penalty spot as being crucial to the win.
#ACLElite | Shanghai Shenhua FC (CHN) 0-2 FC Machida Zelvia (JPN)

#ACLElite | Shanghai Shenhua FC (CHN) 0-2 FC Machida Zelvia (JPN)

“Our mission was to get three points and get through to the Round of 16, so I’m happy we were able to do that,” said Kuroda. “We were a little nervous going into the game but the early goal helped settle the team down and gave us momentum.

“In the second half, we changed the game with several substitutions and managed to get the second goal. We finished this game with a clean sheet, which is good for our confidence. We will go back to Japan with another game to play and we will prepare well for that.” 
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Soma settled the contest in the 88th minute to send Shenhua reeling to their fifth defeat of the campaign. 

The defeat also meant that Shenhua - who are on four points - were eliminated despite still having one more game to play with head coach Leonid Slutskiy lamenting the difficulties his side faced in the tie.

“The first game is always difficult to play because you don’t know in which physical condition you are,” said Slutskiy. “Especially in the Champions League where the intensity and aggressive action are high.
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“It was painful conceding right at the start of the game but after that we matched the intensity and created chances. We tired towards the end, which was quite expected as this was our first game of the season.”

In the concluding ties next week, Machida will host Chengdu Rongcheng FC of China PR while Shenhua have an away match against Thailand’s Buriram United.

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