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[March 20, 2023]
By Michael Church
(Reuters) - Talking points from the week in Asian football:
KOBE RETURN TO WINNING WAYS IN JAPAN WITH VICTORY OVER TOSU
Vissel Kobe bounced back from last week's loss to Urawa Red Diamonds
by defeating Sagan Tosu 1-0 on Saturday and open up a two-point gap
at the top of the J.League standings.
Toya Izumi scored his first professional goal with a looping,
curling right-foot strike from more than 20 yards to give Kobe
victory over the hosts.
Kobe moved on to 12 points to pull clear of the chasing pack after
second placed Nagoya Grampus were held 0-0 by FC Tokyo.
Defending champions Yokohama F Marinos are level on 10 points with
Nagoya after they defeated Kashima Antlers 2-1.
ULSAN SEE OFF SUWON TO MAINTAIN PERFECT START IN KOREA
Reigning champions Ulsan Hyundai maintained their winning start to
the new K League campaign with a 3-0 victory over Suwon FC on
Sunday.
Hong Myung-bo's side have won all four of their league matches so
far this season. Goals from Gustav Ludwigson, Joo Min-kyu and Seol
Young-woo earned the former Asian champions a routine win.
The victory keeps Hong's side three points clear of second-placed FC
Seoul, who beat Jeju United 2-1 on Saturday, while Daegu Citizen
moved up to third after handing Suwon Bluewings a 3-1 defeat.
Jeonbuk Motors, winners of the K-League title in seven of the last
nine seasons, lost 2-0 to Daegu FC on Sunday and are eighth in the
12-team division with only one win from their first four games.
WANDERERS HAND SYDNEY FOUR-GOAL MAULING IN DERBY DAY WIN
Western Sydney Wanderers recorded their biggest win over Sydney FC
when Marko Rudan's side handed their cross-city rivals a 4-0 derby
day thrashing on Saturday.
Two goals from Amor Layouni as well as strikes from Kusini Yengi and
former Sydney FC midfielder Calem Nieuwenhof earned Wanderers the
win to enhance their hopes of progressing to the post-season
playoffss for the first time in six years.
"I think it was our best performance of the season," said Rudan.
"We're creating a lot of chances."
Wanderers are third, seven points behind leaders Melbourne City, who
drew 1-1 with Macarthur FC. Sydney FC are sixth, filling the final
qualification spot for the post-season with five games remaining.
[to top of second column] |
Soccer Football - AFC Champions League -
Group J - Kitchee v Vissel Kobe - Chang Arena, Buriram, Thailand -
May 1, 2022 Kitchee's Raul Baena celebrates scoring their second
goal REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha
RONALDO HANDS PENALTY DUTY TO TEAM MATE TALISCA
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a stunning long-range free kick but handed
the task of converting the winning penalty to a team mate as Al-Nassr
rallied to beat Abha 2-1 in the Saudi Pro League on Saturday.
The Portuguese forward struck the equaliser in the 78th minute but
handed the ball to Brazilian Anderson Talisca for the spot kick
eight minutes later.
"This is mutual respect and we are one team and we act like a
family," said Talisca, whose 14th goal of the season ensured Al-Nassr
kept up the pressure on league leaders Al-Ittihad.
"We all cooperate and the most important thing is the team. In the
end, it's all for the benefit of the club."
YOSHIDA, NAGATOMO DROPPED AS JAPAN LOOKS TOWARD YOUTH
Experienced duo Maya Yoshida and Yuto Nagatomo were left out of
Japan's squad for this month's friendly matches with Uruguay and
Colombia.
Fullback Hiroki Sakai and midfielder Takumi Minamino were also left
out of a squad which featured six uncapped players including
J.League trio Ryotaro Tsunoda, Kashif Bangnagande and Riku Handa.
"I want to have a bigger, deeper pool of players to enable us to
make the strongest national team in the future," said coach Hajime
Moriyasu, who led Japan to the knockout rounds at the World Cup.
"I want the players who got their call-ups this time to make their
presence felt."
Japan face Uruguay in Tokyo on March 24 before taking on Colombia
four days later in Osaka.
(Reporting by Michael Church, Editing by Peter Rutherford)
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