There were two more positive results for the 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE sides in continental competition on Wednesday, as Vissel Kobe picked up a comprehensive 3-0 win away to Shanghai Port FC in the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26 and Gamba Osaka took all three points from their opener in the AFC Champions League Two 2025/26 with a 3-1 triumph over Eastern.
All three of Kobe’s goals came in the space of 25 first-half minutes at Pudong Football Stadium, with Erik getting them up and running with a sensational drive that whistled into the net from the edge of the area in the 19th minute.
The Brazilian then turned provider in the 40th minute, floating a delicious cross into the area from the right flank for Taisei Miyashiro to head powerfully home.
Things got even better for Kobe four minutes later, as Yuya Osako joined his fellow forwards in getting his name on the scoresheet.
This time it was Gotoku Sakai who broke into space in behind on the right flank, and the experienced full-back kept his composure well to cut the ball back into the area where Osako was waiting to clinically convert.
G-Osaka also opened the scoring in their tie at Suita City Football Stadium, as Welton lashed home from close range after being teed up unselfishly by Makoto Mitsuta in the 28th minute.
The hosts were pegged back almost immediately though, as Eastern’s Gil Martins bent an absolutely terrific attempt beyond the despairing dive of G-Osaka goalkeeper Masaaki Higashiguchi just one minute later.
That meant the teams went in all square at the break, and it took until the 70th minute for G-Osaka to re-assume control of proceedings through substitute Takashi Usami.
Deniz Hummet, who had also come on with Usami in the 55th minute, initially did well to keep possession in a crowded Eastern penalty area, and after he shifted the ball to Juan Alano the Brazilian squared for Usami, who made no mistake as he stroked calmly home from just inside the penalty area.
Eastern were reduced to 10 men three minutes later after Calum Hall received a straight red card for denying a goalscoring opportunity as Kanji Okunuki bore down on goal, and Hummet compounded the visitors’ misery from the resultant free-kick as he slammed the ball round the wall to wrap up the victory for G-Osaka in the 75th minute.
