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#ACLElite | Vissel Kobe (JPN) 3-2 Ratchaburi FC (THA)

MD4: Vissel Kobe (JPN) 3-2 Ratchaburi FC (THA)

Kobe: Substitute Tetsushi Yamakawa struck in the closing minutes as Vissel Kobe edged Ratchaburi FC 3-2 to maintain their perfect start to the AFC Champions League Elite 2026/2027™ on Tuesday. 
Kento Hamasaki’s and Erik found the goals on either side of the half for the J League 1 side while Phongsakorn Sangkasopha and Ekanit Panya replied for the Thai outfit.

The win leaves Vissel at the top of the standings with a maximum 12 points while Ratchaburi are on one after four winless fixtures. 
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Vissel allowed their opponents only the briefest spell of possession before seizing control, Jean Patric forcing keeper Kampon Phatomakkakul to go low in the seventh minute with a first-time attempt from the left. 

Ratchaburi, however, did cause the home side a moment of anxiety in the 16th minute when Phongsakorn robbed Caetano of the ball but then dragged his shot wide of the left post.
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The Thai side’s defence soaked up the pressure well but crumbled in the 34th minute when Hamasaki stabbed the ball in from close range into an empty net as Kampon focused on Yuta Goke, who supplied the pass from the centre. 

The goal was confirmed by a VAR review, and Yuya Kuwasaki then saw his attempts from the left and from 18 yards denied by the Ratchaburi keeper as Vissel headed into the break with only a goal to show for their dominance.

MD4: Vissel Kobe (JPN) v Ratchaburi FC (THA)

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Ratchaburi came out hungrier as Sai van Wermeskerken had their first look at goal two minutes in from distance, followed by a superb 59th-minute strike by Thossawat Limwanasathian that crashed against the bar, with Shota Arai easily handling Wermeskerken’s attempt on the rebound.
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The visitors’ persistence paid off in the 64th minute when Phongsakorn, off a pass from Daniel Ting, dummied Kawasaki just inside the box and rifled his shot past a sea of defenders and a stumbling Arai into the right corner. 
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The Vissel Kobe keeper tipped over Thanawat Suengchitthawon’s 25-yard strike in the 76th minute to maintain parity, but then was well beaten in the 82nd minute when Ekanit curled the ball in from 18 yards. 
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Vissel Kobe, however, put a damper on their celebrations just a minute later when Kawasaki’s pass from outside the area found Erik in the centre, who controlled the ball and volleyed past a diving Kampon. 
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Second-half substitute Yamakawa then found the winner in the 88th minute when he finished off a series of two headers to loop his own into the top right.

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