Japanese clubs have cemented their dominance in the East Zone of the AFC Champions , with Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Vissel Kobe, and FC Machida Zelvia all securing their places in the Round of 16. These results reflect the significant development of Japanese football and its ability to adapt to the new format of the continent's premier club competition.
Details of the Japanese victory night
In a thrilling and closely contested match at the Edion Peace Wing in Hiroshima, Sanfrecce Hiroshima a remarkable comeback against their Malaysian visitors, Johor Darul Ta'zim. Despite a strong start from the visitors, who took an early lead through Brazilian Marcos Guilherme, the Japanese side's resilience was on full display. The home team rallied thanks to a stellar performance from star player Akito Suzuki, who scored two crucial goals – one from the penalty spot and the other early in the second half – to lift his team to third place with 14 points, further cementing the dominance of Japanese football over its Southeast Asian counterparts.
In a related development, Vissel Kobe a masterclass in tactical patience and attacking efficiency against their South Korean visitors, FC Seoul. The Japanese side dominated possession, but the decisive goals came in the final minutes when Yoshinori Muto and Gotoku Sakai scored two crucial strikes, securing their place at the top of the group with 16 points and widening the gap with the Korean team, whose tally remained at 9 points.
Machida Zelvia and the confirmation of merit
The celebrations weren't confined to Japanese stadiums; they extended to China, where FC Machida Zelvia with a valuable 2-0 victory from Shanghai Shenhua's home ground. The team owes this win to its star player, Yuki Soma, who scored both goals, bringing his team's tally to 14 points and securing second place in the standings, thus effectively eliminating the Chinese team from the competition.
The context of the championship and the new system
These victories are doubly significant given that they come in the inaugural edition of the tournament under its new name and format, the "AFC Champions League." The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) reduced the number of participating teams to raise the overall level of play and increase prize money, making the competition more intense. The dominance of the Japanese clubs demonstrates their readiness for this transformation, showing tactical and physical superiority over their rivals from Korea, China, and Australia.
The road to Saudi Arabia
With qualification secured, Japanese clubs now turn their attention to the knockout stages, which begin next March. Their ultimate goal is to reach the finals, to be hosted by Saudi Arabia . From the quarter-finals to the final, the matches will be played in a centralized format in Saudi Arabia during April, adding an international dimension and significant media attention to the event, as Japanese clubs seek to reaffirm their dominance in Asia on Saudi soil.
