VISSEL KOBE, YOKOHAMA F. MARINOS AWAKEN FROM SLUMBER IN AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ELITE

After disappointing starts to the 2024-25 AFC Champions League Elite campaign, Japanese outfits Vissel Kobe and Yokohama F. Marinos both picked up their opening victories on Wednesday. Paul Miller/Getty Images

 Suffice to say, the opening round of the 2024-25 AFC Champions League Elite did not go according to plan for two of the J1 League's representatives.

Expected to go far in the tournament, Yokohama F. Marinos - runners-up last season - fell to a shocking 7-3 loss to debutants Gwangju FC, while Vissel Kobe could only muster a 0-0 draw away to Thailand's Buriram United.

Kawasaki Frontale were the only side to give Japanese football any joy a fortnight ago but, as they fell to a 1-0 defeat of their own to Gwangju on Tuesday, it was time for their compatriots to get their respective campaigns up and running the following evening.

Up against a Shandong Taishan outfit who impressed in a 3-1 victory over Central Coast Mariners last time out, Vissel took a 14th-minute lead when Taisei Miyashiro climbed highest inside the area to head home a Takahiro Ogihara freekick although the visitors would respond through a Cryzan strike two minutes before the half-hour mark.

Nonetheless, six minutes after the restart, as he found space on the edge of the area, Gōtoku Sakai would net what proved to be the winner with a speculative effort that took a wicked deflection before looping into the back of the net over a hapless Wang Dalei.

There may have been a touch of fortune in the manner in which they grabbed the decisive goal for a 2-1 triumph, but there was still an impressive level of professionalism shown by Vissel as they managed the contest -- especially in the closing stages when tempers boiled over and threatened to evolve into something ugly.

A brutal challenge by Gao Zhunyi on Jean Patric -- as the Vissel substitute looked to wind the clock down by the corner flag -- was bad enough as it is, but he then angered the hosts further as he stood over his fallen opponent and mouthed off at him.

The flashpoint led to both benches spilling onto the field with Shandong coach Choi Kang-Hee, and not Gao, seemingly shown a red card shortly after.

Even when play looked set to resume a prolonged delay, Vissel defender Matheus Thuler then decided to reignite the argument with the Shandong bench -- earning himself a caution.

With Choi refusing to leave his seat, the game was halted again and -- as it entered its 105th minute -- the fact that the referee blew the final whistle immediately after it restarted further incensed the Shandong contingent as they stormed onto the pitch to confront the match officials, who needed had to be kept at arm's length by technical staff.

Sakai, already the hero on the scoresheet, was also an example of maturity to follow as urged his teammates to head off the playing area as quickly as possible to avoid further drama -- having earlier restrained Thuler, possibly saving the Brazilian from getting sent off.

There was far less drama and tension 580 kilometres away over in Yokohama but an equal amount of excitement, aside for the travelling Ulsan HD contingent as their team were put to the sword in an emphatic 4-0 win for Marinos.

After Kota Watanabe had handed them the lead as early as the fourth minute, Marinos were always in control after Takuma Nishimura doubled their advantage a minute before the break.

And as the game entered its closing stages and Ulsan began to push more players forward in search of a response, Marinos would twice hit them on the counter -- with Anderson Lopes and Kota Mizunuma applying the finishing touches -- to round off a comprehensive victory.

They may not have began their ACL Elite campaigns in the best possible way.

But, even as they did so in contrasting fashion, both Vissel and Marinos look to have awoken from their slumber.

- Gabriel Tan

SPIRITED FIGHTBACK LEAVES YOKOHAMA F. MARINOS ON THE BRINK OF HISTORIC AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TRIUMPH

An 84th-minute effort by Kota Watanabe completed a come-from-behind 2-1 win for Yokohama F. Marinos over Al Ain in the first leg of the 2023-24 AFC Champions League final. YUICHI YAMAZAKI/AFP via Getty Images

 In the last edition of Asian football's premier club competition in its current iteration, Yokohama F. Marinos -- one of the continent's most famous clubs -- are finally on the verge of winning the AFC Champions League for the first time.

And, in what has been a recurring theme throughout the campaign, they are insisting on doing things the hard way.

On Sunday evening, Marinos looked set to fall to a costly home loss to Al Ain in the first leg of the final as they trailed through Mohammed Abbas' 12th-minute opener -- only to score twice in the final 18 minutes to claim an important 2-1 win at Nissan Stadium.

Based on the balance of play, few would argue that they were not deserving of the victory and yet it again looked like the J1 League giants were doing all they could to squander a golden opportunity to become the 7th Japanese champions of Asia.

Even from the group stage, Marinos had to rely on a superior head-to-head record -- which went down to goal difference -- to progress following a three-way tie on 12 points with Shandong Taishan and Incheon United.

The round of 16 saw them require extra-time to beat Bangkok United 3-2 on aggregate in a tie they were the favourites in, before the quarterfinals was where they perhaps had the least of trouble as they prevailed in reunion with Shandong.

Come the semifinals, Harry Kewell's charges would race into a 3-0 lead inside the opening half-hour of the second leg against Ulsan HD -- having lost the opening encounter 1-0 -- but then allowed their opponents to level the aggregate score, even having to play over 80 minutes with a numerical deficit as Takumi Kamijima was sent off prior to the break before the game went into extra-time and then penalties.

Marinos would eventually prevail 5-4 in the shootout to set up a decider with Al Ain, who were no slouches themselves after stunning tournament favourites Al Hilal in the West Asia Zone semifinal.

Heading in Saturday's clash, Marinos were always expected to make the most of home advantage ahead of a daunting trip to the United Arab Emirates in a fortnight -- only for them to fall behind after 12 minutes when they were caught out by an opposition counterattack.

There appeared to be little danger when Al Ain pinged a hopeful ball forward but, through sheer pace and determination, Soufiane Rahimi would surge past a dumbfounded Eduardo and, while his initial effort was well saved by William Popp, Abbas was on hand to score on the rebound.

In fairness, Marinos had been the more enterprising of the two teams up till that point and they continued to create the better chances only for an equaliser to elude them through a combination of hesitant finishing and some heroics by Al Ain goalkeeper Khalid Eisa.

Somehow, things looked to have gotten worse for the hosts on the half-hour mark when Popp, who had been otherwise excellent throughout the second half of the campaign, allowed a tame shot by Matias Palacios to squirm through his legs -- but VAR would come to their rescue by cancelling out a second Al Ain goal for offside.

Nonetheless, as the game progressed into second 45, Marinos were now fully on the charge yet, as chances continued to go begging, it did look as though they would once more leave themselves with a mountain to climb in the second leg.

But as he has proven in recent times, Asahi Uenaka's knack for popping up with important goals came to the fore in the 72nd minute as he ghosted into the six-yard box to meet Yan Matheus' inch-perfect cross with a glancing header into the bottom corner.

With the tie now purely one-way traffic as Al Ain looked increasingly content to take a draw back to the UAE, Marinos would strike again.

Yet another excellent delivery from the right by Yan Matheus was volleyed towards goal by Ryo Miyaichi and, while the strike probably would have been off target, Kota Watanabe was perfectly placed to divert the ball into the back of the net with his knee.

The offside flag halted the initial celebrations but VAR would again lend a helping hand as it proved that Palacios had played every opponent onside, ensuring Kewell's decision to introduce both Miyaichi and Watanabe on just after the hour would prove a masterstroke.

As the final whistle rang shortly after, there was elation in the Marinos camp -- but possibly also plenty of relief.

The job still is not completed and they will likely face a massive test at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium on May 25.

Still, regardless of how they continue to do things the hard way, the fact remains that Marinos are now tantalisingly close to a historic ACL triumph.

- Gabriel Tan