AFC Champions League Elite
The tie at the Chuncheon Songam Sports Town Stadium saw scoring opportunities few and far between but sets up a winner-takes-all encounter next week in Japan.
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Both tournament debutants took some time to find their rhythm, with the first real look at goal coming from an unmarked Yuki Soma 10 minutes in when the Machida forward headed over after connecting to a cross from Gen Shoji.
The Japanese side then took control but failed to trouble keeper Park Chung-hyo, with Na Sang-ho’s volley and Daihachi Okamura’s header both falling short.
The Japanese side then took control but failed to trouble keeper Park Chung-hyo, with Na Sang-ho’s volley and Daihachi Okamura’s header both falling short.
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The hosts failed to launch any shots on target in the first 25 minutes, with later attempts by Song Jun-seok and Park Sang-hyeok quickly shut down by the Machida defence before they could reach custodian Kosei Tani.
Machida, who topped the East Zone League Stage, upped their game after the half hour mark but found their opponents’ backline equally up to the task as Park closed the first half by making an instinctive save from a close-range Hotaka Nakamura effort.
Machida, who topped the East Zone League Stage, upped their game after the half hour mark but found their opponents’ backline equally up to the task as Park closed the first half by making an instinctive save from a close-range Hotaka Nakamura effort.
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Play started on an even footing after the break, with Machida having a slight edge as the match wore on, Soma sending his free-kick just wide of the left post and Tete Yengi’s header from the centre of the area easily handled by Park.
The J1 League side, however, struggled to create any openings as did Gangwon, who, despite bringing in four fresh pairs of legs, were unable to make any headway into the opposing end, with substitute Abdalla Halaihal’s 81st-minute attempt flagged for offside and his next look swerving past the right post.
The J1 League side, however, struggled to create any openings as did Gangwon, who, despite bringing in four fresh pairs of legs, were unable to make any headway into the opposing end, with substitute Abdalla Halaihal’s 81st-minute attempt flagged for offside and his next look swerving past the right post.
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Machida’s Tani made his first save of the match when he pushed Halaihal’s 18-yard effort against the right bar two minutes before the end as both sides settled for a share of the spoils.
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