KOBE – Jean Patric scored the winner as Vissel Kobe edged Ulsan HD 1-0 at home on Wednesday to move top midway through the Asian Champions League Elite league stage, handing the South Korean club their first defeat of the tournament this season.
Kobe moved up to nine points after four games, while fellow J-League first-division side Sanfrecce Hiroshima are on seven points after they also won 1-0 at home on Tuesday against a South Korean side, Gangwon FC.
Tournament debutants Machida Zelvia are on five points after they suffered a last-minute home defeat against Melbourne City also on Tuesday. The top eight of 12 teams in the East region qualify for the knockout stage.
Daiju Sasaki struck the post just four minutes in at Noevir Stadium before Yuya Osako thought he scored the opener in the 11th minute, only to see his fine volley ruled out for an offside by Patric, with the former Japan forward Osako also striking the bar in the 35th minute.
But they finally made their chances count in the 58th minute when Taisei Miyashiro won the ball high up the pitch and Osako fed right-back Yuya Kuwasaki to send a low, diagonal cross into the box. Patric controlled the ball with his back to the goal before burying a left-footed effort on the turn through the legs of a defender.
“I’m happy both with my goal and the team winning,” Patric said after helping stop Kobe’s four-game winless run across all competitions. “Regardless of who scores, I want to work for the team again in the next game and celebrate winning.”
