Vissel Kobe achieved a narrow 1-0 victory over Ulsan Hyundai on Wednesday, with Jean Patric scoring the decisive goal in the Asian Champions League Elite league stage. This win not only placed Kobe at the top of their group but also handed the South Korean club its first defeat of the tournament this season.
With this victory, Kobe climbed to nine points after four matches, while fellow J-League team Sanfrecce Hiroshima secured seven points after a 1-0 win against Gangwon FC on Tuesday. Machida Zelvia, the tournament’s newcomers, currently have five points, following a dramatic last-minute loss to Melbourne City in their previous match. The competition format allows the top eight teams from the East region to advance to the knockout stage, adding to the intensity of the remaining fixtures.
The match at Noevir Stadium saw early attempts, with Daiju Sasaki striking the post just four minutes into the game. Yuya Osako had an opportunity in the 11th minute, but his volley was disallowed due to offside. Later in the first half, Osako came close again, hitting the bar in the 35th minute.
The breakthrough came in the 58th minute when Taisei Miyashiro pressured the Ulsan defense to win the ball high up the pitch. He then assisted Osako, who passed to right-back Yuya Kuwasaki. Kuwasaki delivered a low, diagonal cross into the box, enabling Patric to control the ball expertly and score with a left-footed shot that went through a defender’s legs.
Post-match, Patric expressed his satisfaction with both his performance and the team’s overall success. “I’m happy both with my goal and the team winning. Regardless of who scores, I want to work for the team again in the next game and celebrate winning,” he stated, highlighting the collective effort of the squad and their determination to build on this momentum.
This victory marks a significant turnaround for Kobe, coming after a challenging stretch where they had not won in four matches across various competitions, instilling hope and positivity as they move forward in the tournament.