AFC Champions League Two
Keiya Sento nabbed the winner in the 78th minute to leave last season's AFC Champions League Elite™ runners-up with a maximum of 12 points, with the Chinese PR outfit eight adrift.
Machida Zelvia allowed their opponents too much space in the opening minutes, Luís Asue, Rafael Ratao and Wilson Manafa all taking advantage of the hosts’ uneven start to test Kosei Tani with well-placed shots from distance.
The J League 1 side, however, ensured their first look at goal was a cracker when Shimoda picked up defender Jin Shunkai’s weak clearance outside the area in the 29th minute and first-timed a blistering half-volley into the top right.
Wang Haijian almost leveled two minutes later but Tani again proved up to the task, denying the Shenhua skipper’s curling shot as the China PR outfit redoubled their pressing to little avail.
Despite their lead, Machida Zelvia looked the second-best side in the first 45 minutes, heading to the dressing room with only a single shot on target as opposed to Shenhua’s five.
Group G: FC Machida Zelvia (JPN) v Shanghai Shenhua FC (CHN)
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The visitors again started the second half on the front foot, Ratao’s powerful strike from range three minutes in forcing Tani to spill the ball, which was hurriedly booted away by Henry Mochizuki before Asue could reach it.
Shenhua’s Ma Zhen made a fantastic one-handed save in the 57th minute to block Takuma Nishimura’s point-blank shot before his side roared back into the game two minutes later.
The lively Ratao came from behind to intercept a disastrous back-pass from Mochizuki to Tani before rounding the onrushing keeper and slotting home into a gaping net.
A cool Machida Zelvia replied in the 78th minute, with substitute Yuki Soma’s cross turned against the bar by fellow substitute Koki Ogawa before Sento swooped in and went low to head the rebound into the bottom right.
Nakamura could have put his side further ahead a minute before regulation time, driving the ball just wide of the right post after coming down the centre unchallenged but a third goal was unnecessary to give Go Kuroda’s side their fourth straight win.
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