AFC Champions League Elite - Skibbe: Kobe were lucky against Daejeon

Daejeon: Vissel Kobe head coach Michael Skibbe admitted his side were fortunate after Ren Komatsu’s late header secured the Japanese club a 1-0 win over Daejeon Hana Citizen FC in the AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27™ on Tuesday.

The victory kept Kobe’s 100 percent record intact as they moved to nine points, five ahead of Korea Republic’s Daejeon.

#ACLElite | Daejeon Hanacitizen (KOR) 0-1 Vissel Kobe (JPN)

“We expected a very intense match against powerful opponents, and that’s exactly what we got,” said Skibbe. “We tried to press them high, but our mistakes in the first half and at the beginning of the second half allowed them to launch some dangerous counterattacks.

“We found ourselves under pressure, but the players worked hard defensively and our goalkeeper made several saves.

“In the last 20 to 25 minutes, we played better in attack and created three or four good chances. One of them led to a beautiful goal, but in the end, it was a lucky win.”

Daejeon head coach Hwang Sun-hong felt his side had created enough opportunities but were let down by their finishing.

“We played well, but our finishing was lacking. We lost due to a difference in finishing ability,” said Hwang. “As we saw today, I believe the pressing intensity of J League teams like Kobe and Kyoto Sanga is on a completely different level compared to Korea.

“This is something that not only Daejeon but the entire K League needs to consider. We need to think about the tempo.

“The J League’s line-breaking and speed of transitions are at the level of the top five European leagues. The K League also needs to increase playing time and play more aggressively.”

Skibbe: Kobe were lucky against Daejeon

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