AFC Champions League Elite
Machida’s three goals in a 15-minute spell prevented a spirited second half fightback from the Korea Republic side.
The Japanese side, who lifted the Emperor's Cup last Saturday, are now on eight points from five starts while Gangwon’s second consecutive defeat leaves them on six.
The Japanese side, who lifted the Emperor's Cup last Saturday, are now on eight points from five starts while Gangwon’s second consecutive defeat leaves them on six.
Machida’s Henry Mochizuki and Na Sang-ho both missed the mark within the opening 10 minutes, Keiya Sento joining them in the 16th minute with a strike from the edge of the area that slipped past the left post by inches.
Sento got things right in the 24th minute when he moved unmarked into the area and headed into an empty net following a cross by Asahi Masuyama, whose movement down the right caught keeper Park Chung-hyo off position.
Sento got things right in the 24th minute when he moved unmarked into the area and headed into an empty net following a cross by Asahi Masuyama, whose movement down the right caught keeper Park Chung-hyo off position.
Machida increased their advantage four minutes later from a free-kick - skipper Hokuto Shimoda curling an unstoppable 20-yard shot that flew past Park’s fingertips into the top right corner.
Kosei Tani made his first save for the J1 League side when he got down to block Kim Gun-hee’s close-range attempt, his defence then coming to the rescue by clearing Song Jun-seok’s follow-up shot.
Machida, however, struck again six minutes before the break when Sento stole the ball from Seo Min-woo on the right and cut it back to an unguarded Oh Se-hun, who happily swept home past a despairing Park.
Kosei Tani made his first save for the J1 League side when he got down to block Kim Gun-hee’s close-range attempt, his defence then coming to the rescue by clearing Song Jun-seok’s follow-up shot.
Machida, however, struck again six minutes before the break when Sento stole the ball from Seo Min-woo on the right and cut it back to an unguarded Oh Se-hun, who happily swept home past a despairing Park.
Gangwon head coach Chung Kyung-ho made three changes to get his side back into the game, and it paid off in the 55th minute when - off a corner by substitute Kim Kang-guk - fellow newcomer Park Ho-yeong rose highest in a crowded goalmouth to head past Tani.
The goal put Machida on a defensive footing, with their only attempt on target coming from Yuki Soma, whose venomous shot from the edge of the area rattled the crossbar in the 83rd minute.
The goal put Machida on a defensive footing, with their only attempt on target coming from Yuki Soma, whose venomous shot from the edge of the area rattled the crossbar in the 83rd minute.
Gangwon pushed relentlessly forward through Park Sang-hyeok, Kim Gun-hee and Mo Jae-hyeon, but their efforts proved too little too late to undo the damage done by Machida in the first half.
Related News
- AFC Champions League Elite
MD5: Shanghai Port FC (CHN) 1-3 FC Seoul (KOR)
- AFC Champions League Elite
MD5: Melbourne City FC (AUS) 2-0 Johor Darul Ta’zim (MAS)
- AFC Champions League Elite
Homework pays off for Sharjah
- AFC Champions League Elite
Shabab Al Ahli live up to Sousa’s expectations
- AFC Champions League Elite
Al Duhail make Belmadi proud; Conceicao rues Al Ittihad’s defensive collapse
Item 1 of 5