AFC Champions League Two
Ryohei Shirasaki’s blistering first-half strike ensured the Japanese side lead Group G with maximum points while Shenhua are five adrift.
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Machida Zelvia dictated play from the start but the first opportunity opened at the opposing end in the 13th minute, with keeper Kosei Tani coming off his line to pluck the ball from Rafael Ratao’s feet before the striker could execute his shot.
Keiya Sento found space a minute later thanks to a defence-splitting cross from Ryohei Shirasaki but the Machida Zelvia midfielder - with only custodian Ma Zhen to beat - clipped the ball over the crossbar.
Keiya Sento found space a minute later thanks to a defence-splitting cross from Ryohei Shirasaki but the Machida Zelvia midfielder - with only custodian Ma Zhen to beat - clipped the ball over the crossbar.
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His teammate Mitch Duke also booted over after Sento’s headed lay off in the 22nd minute, with the Japanese outfit then awarded three consecutive corners four minutes later and finding their breakthrough with the last.
Hokuo Shimoda’s corner in the 28th minute was headed away by defender Wilson Manafa but only as far as Ryohei Shirasaki, whose stunning first-time effort from 18 yards went past a sea of bodies and a diving Ma Zhen to land in the bottom right corner of the net.
Hokuo Shimoda’s corner in the 28th minute was headed away by defender Wilson Manafa but only as far as Ryohei Shirasaki, whose stunning first-time effort from 18 yards went past a sea of bodies and a diving Ma Zhen to land in the bottom right corner of the net.
Group G: Shanghai Shenhua FC (CHN) v FC Machida Zelvia (JPN)
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Tani closed the half by denying Luís Asue the equaliser a minute into stoppage time to ensure his side had a lead to protect heading into the break.
Both sides started the second half on an equal footing, Ratao coming closest to opening accounts in the 56th minute with a low drive on the turn and four minutes later with a close-range back-heel the Machida Zelvia keeper instinctively blocked.
Both sides started the second half on an equal footing, Ratao coming closest to opening accounts in the 56th minute with a low drive on the turn and four minutes later with a close-range back-heel the Machida Zelvia keeper instinctively blocked.
Ma Zhen made a fantastic dive to the left in the 74th minute to keep out substitute Koki Ogawa’s blistering 18-yard effort while an unmarked Sento skewed his shot from the left moments later as the J League 1 side pressed for a second goal.
Shenhua’s Yang Zexiang should have leveled in the 80th minute off a corner but instead sent his header just wide of the left post while Ma Zhen denied Yuki Soma’s drive at the opposing end in the dying minutes to close the match.
Shenhua’s Yang Zexiang should have leveled in the 80th minute off a corner but instead sent his header just wide of the left post while Ma Zhen denied Yuki Soma’s drive at the opposing end in the dying minutes to close the match.
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