Vissel Kobe almost pulled off a remarkable recovery from three goals down in the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26 on Wednesday but ultimately fell to a 4-3 defeat away to Gangwon FC, while Gamba Osaka made it three wins from three AFC Champions League Two 2025/26 games as they defeated Nam Dinh FC 3-1.
Gangwon opened the scoring after seven minutes at Chuncheon Songam Sports Town Stadium, Lee Sang-heon side-footing home a volley after Marko Tuci’s ball into the back post.
The hosts then strengthened their advantage after Mo Jae-hyeon’s 21st-minute header from a corner, before Song Jun-seok made it 3-0 with a powerful low drive from distance two minutes before half-time.
Kobe emerged a different side after the interval, however, and the 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE side pulled a goal back three minutes after the restart as Taisei Miyashiro lashed in from just inside the area.
Two minutes later Kobe were very much back in the contest, when Rikuto Hirose sent in a perfect cross from deep on the right and Jean Patric made no mistake with a header from seven yards.
Miyashiro then struck a dramatic equaliser for Kobe in the 89th minute, spinning and firing home at the near post after Takuya Iwanami had helped on Nanasei Iino’s long throw into the area.
That wasn’t to be the end of the scoring though, and there was heartbreak for Kobe in the fifth minute of stoppage time when Kim Gun-hee capitalised upon a loose ball at another corner to seal the victory for Gangwon.
Meanwhile, G-Osaka continued their perfect start to their ACL Two campaign with a comfortable win in front of 9,231 fans at Suita City Football Stadium.
Rin Mito rounded off a terrific move to give the hosts the lead in the 16th minute, converting from close range after Ryoya Yamashita’s low ball in from the right.
Yamashita also provided the assist for G-Osaka’s second goal in the 52nd minute, picking the ball up 35 yards from goal and tearing at the heart of the Nam Dinh defence with a direct dribble before laying off for Issam Jebali to stroke home.
G-Osaka were then a little fortunate for their third goal with one minute remaining, when substitute Ryotaro Meshino’s shot took a wicked deflection off Nam Dinh defender Walber and bounced into the net past wrong-footed goalkeeper Caique.
Kyle Hudlin managed to pull one back for the visitors in the 94th minute, turning sharply before clipping in from the edge of the area, but that wasn’t enough to take the shine off for G-Osaka, who are sitting pretty at the top of Group F at the halfway stage.
