Japan’s Vissel Kobe came back from a goal down to defeat FC Seoul 2-1 on Wednesday to confirm their progress to the Asian Champions League Elite quarter-finals as Johor Darul Ta’zim from Malaysia advanced at the expense of Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
JDT completed a 3-2 aggregate win over their Japanese hosts despite losing 1-0 in the second leg with Kosuke Kinoshita netting a 90th-minute penalty for Hiroshima.The victory, which came after a 3-1 first leg win in Malaysia last week, means JDT advance to the last eight for the first time having been eliminated in the round of 16 twice in the last three seasons.
“It’s incredible to get the result here in a really difficult game,” said JDT’s Nacho Mendez. “We made history for the team, for the club. Very proud for everybody. It’s a dream for everybody.
“We suffered a little bit more than we expected or than we wanted but I think it’s OK. We knew it would be difficult here after our good result at home. It was a good effort by all the team.”
Vissel Kobe saw their 1-0 first leg lead disappear in the 20th minute at Misaki Park Stadium when FC Seoul’s Polish striker Patryk Klimala nodded in from close range.
It took until the 78th minute for the former J-League champions to level on the night, substitute Yuya Osako sliding in at the far post to meet Yoshinori Muto’s cross to restore his team’s overall advantage.
With a minute left, Yosuke Ideguchi put the result beyond doubt with a clever chip over goalkeeper Gu Sung-yun, who had gifted possession to the midfielder 25 yards from goal.
JDT and Vissel Kobe join Machida Zelvia and Buriram United in the next phase of the competition, which will see the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final played in Jeddah in a centralised format from April 16 to 25.
Last 16 matches involving teams from the western side of the draw have been postponed as a result of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. New dates for those fixtures have yet to be announced by the Asian Football Confederation.
