AFC Champions League Elite
An own goal by Fu Han and Yuki Soma’s strike handed the dominant Japanese side victory and gave head coach Go Kuroda maximum points following two consecutive draws. Defeat left reigning Chinese Super League champions Shanghai Port on a single point.
The J1 League side’s early pressure came to fruition in the 12th minute when Shanghai Port defender Fu turned the ball into his own net following a goalmouth tussle with Shuto Fujio, who had his earlier header pushed out by keeper Chen Wei.
A second goal landed 13 minutes later when Shanghai Port failed to stop Soma’s run down the centre, which culminated with the striker’s shot from outside the area taking a deflection off defender Wei Zhen and past a flat-footed Chen.
A second goal landed 13 minutes later when Shanghai Port failed to stop Soma’s run down the centre, which culminated with the striker’s shot from outside the area taking a deflection off defender Wei Zhen and past a flat-footed Chen.
With his defence in shambles, the Shanghai Port keeper did well to keep out two goal-bound attempts by Soma and three by Mitch Duke. His counterpart Kosei Tani, meanwhile, was a bystander for the first 45 minutes, with the hosts not having a single shot at goal.
Machida began the second half in the same manner as the first, with Shanghai Port skipper Zhang Linpeng heading Fujio’s shot off the goalline in the 54th minute and Soma having his goal disallowed for offside by a VAR review four minutes later.
Shanghai Port head coach Kevin Muscat sent on strikers Leonardo and Liu Ruofan in the 60th minute to boost their firepower but his side struggled to impact the match in any meaningful way.
Shanghai Port head coach Kevin Muscat sent on strikers Leonardo and Liu Ruofan in the 60th minute to boost their firepower but his side struggled to impact the match in any meaningful way.
In fact, midfielder Kuai Jiwen registered Shanghai Port’s first shot at goal in the 73rd minute when he burst down the left flank and fired from a tight angle, forcing a save from Tani at the post as Machida took a well deserved victory.
Machida will target another win when they meet Australia’s Melbourne City FC on November 4 while Shanghai Port face Buriram United of Thailand on the same day.
Machida will target another win when they meet Australia’s Melbourne City FC on November 4 while Shanghai Port face Buriram United of Thailand on the same day.
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