“Jairo da Silva picks up an early yellow card for a foul, setting the tone for a fractious encounter”
“Ager Aketxe, just introduced at halftime, is immediately booked for a foul within minutes of his arrival”
“Kosuke Kinoshita converts the penalty with a right-footed strike after VAR confirms the handball decision”
Pivotal
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Johor Darul Ta'zim
Sanfrecce Hiroshima secured a dramatic 1-0 victory over Johor Darul Ta'zim in the AFC Champions League Elite through a 90th-minute penalty conversion by Kosuke Kinoshita. The match was a tightly contested affair with both sides struggling to create clear-cut chances throughout the 90 minutes, evidenced by six yellow cards as frustrations mounted. The decisive moment came when Yotaro Nakajima's deflected shot struck a defender's hand in the penalty area, with VAR confirming the handball after review. This crucial victory keeps Hiroshima's continental ambitions alive and demonstrates their resilience under pressure, while JDT will rue missed opportunities in what was an otherwise disciplined defensive performance.
How entertaining was this match?
The pause has ended. They are set to resume play.
Zim takes a shot with his right foot from outside the penalty area, but it's stopped by the goalkeeper.
The fourth official has indicated that there will be 5 minutes of stoppage time.
Zim 0. Kosuke Kinoshita from Sanfrecce Hiroshima successfully scores the penalty with a shot using his right foot.
VAR Review: Penalty awarded to Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
Zim - there's been a handball in the box.
A shot is deflected. Yotaro Nakajima from Sanfrecce Hiroshima tries a right-footed effort from the middle of the penalty area, but it's blocked.
Missed opportunity. Mutsuki Kato from Sanfrecce Hiroshima took a right-footed shot from the middle of the penalty area.
A shot attempt is thwarted. Motoki Ohara of Sanfrecce Hiroshima takes a right-footed strike from the left side of the penalty area, but it's blocked.
Substitution for Sanfrecce Hiroshima: Motoki Ohara comes on to take the place of Takaaki Shichi.
Zim. Bérgson comes on for Jairo due to an injury.
VAR Review: No Penalty Awarded to Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
The pause has ended. They are set to resume play.
Zim allowed a goal scored by Hayato Araki.
Corner kick awarded to Sanfrecce Hiroshima, following a foul by Óscar Arribas.
Shuto Nakano from Sanfrecce Hiroshima earns a free kick in his team's defensive zone.
Missed opportunity! Kosuke Kinoshita of Sanfrecce Hiroshima had a header from the right side of the penalty area after a corner kick, but it went wide.
Tsukasa Shiotani from Sanfrecce Hiroshima commits a foul.
Zim is awarded a free kick in their own half.
Corner kick awarded to Sanfrecce Hiroshima after Eddy Israfilov allowed the ball to go out.
Corner kick awarded to Sanfrecce Hiroshima, following a foul by Eddy Israfilov.
Kosuke Kinoshita from Sanfrecce Hiroshima is awarded a free kick on the left side of the pitch.
Substitution for Sanfrecce Hiroshima: Yotaro Nakajima comes on to take the place of Ryo Germain.
Substitution for Sanfrecce Hiroshima: Mutsuki Kato comes on to take the place of Akito Suzuki.
Substitution for Sanfrecce Hiroshima: Mutsuki Kato comes on to take the place of Akito Suzuki.
Zim is awarded a free kick in their own half.
Naoto Arai from Sanfrecce Hiroshima commits a foul.
Akito Suzuki from Sanfrecce Hiroshima earns a free kick in his team's defensive zone.
Zim earns a free kick in the opponent's half.
Tsukasa Shiotani commits a foul for Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
Shuto Nakano from Sanfrecce Hiroshima earns a free kick in the opponent's half.
Shane Lowry comes on to take the place of Jonathan Silva.
Kosuke Kinoshita from Sanfrecce Hiroshima commits a foul.
Shane Lowry comes on to take the place of Jonathan Silva.
Kosuke Kinoshita from Sanfrecce Hiroshima commits a foul.
Zim is awarded a free kick in their own half.
Corner kick awarded to Sanfrecce Hiroshima after Raúl Parra allowed the ball to go out.
A shot attempt is thwarted. Hayao Kawabe from Sanfrecce Hiroshima has a left-footed strike from the middle of the box that gets blocked. The assist came from Ryo Germain.
The pause has ended. They are set to resume play.
Kosuke KinoshitaYellow CardKosuke Kinoshita from Sanfrecce Hiroshima receives a yellow card for committing a serious foul.
Kosuke Kinoshita from Sanfrecce Hiroshima commits a foul.
Zim is awarded a free kick in their own half.
Zim is awarded a free kick in their own half.
Kosuke Kinoshita of Sanfrecce Hiroshima commits a foul.
Corner kick awarded to Sanfrecce Hiroshima, following a foul by Eddy Israfilov.
Missed opportunity! Ryo Germain from Sanfrecce Hiroshima took a right-footed shot from the right side of the six-yard box, but it went wide to the right. The chance was set up by a cross from Naoto Arai.
Tsukasa Shiotani from Sanfrecce Hiroshima is awarded a free kick in his team's defensive zone.
Hayato Araki from Sanfrecce Hiroshima earns a free kick in his team's defensive zone.
Substitution for Sanfrecce Hiroshima: Kosuke Kinoshita comes on to take the place of Sota Nakamura.
Substitution for Sanfrecce Hiroshima: Naoto Arai comes on to take the place of Sho Sasaki.
Substitution for Sanfrecce Hiroshima: Naoto Arai comes on to take the place of Sho Sasaki.
Missed opportunity! Ryo Germain from Sanfrecce Hiroshima took a left-footed shot from the left side of the penalty area, but it went wide to the left. The assist came from Shuto Nakano.
Ryo Germain from Sanfrecce Hiroshima commits a handball.
Zim receives a yellow card for committing a serious foul.
Sota Nakamura from Sanfrecce Hiroshima earns a free kick in the opponent's half.
Akito Suzuki from Sanfrecce Hiroshima earns a free kick on the left side of the field.
Sho Sasaki from Sanfrecce Hiroshima committed a foul.
Zim. Ager Aketxe comes on to take the place of Afiq Fazail.
The score is currently Zimbabwe 0...
The score stands at Zimbabwe 0...
Zim is currently scoreless at 0...
Zim is awarded a free kick in the opponent's half.
Hayato Araki from Sanfrecce Hiroshima commits a foul.
Zim is awarded a free kick in their own half of the field.
Ryo Germain from Sanfrecce Hiroshima commits a foul.
Sho Sasaki from Sanfrecce Hiroshima earns a free kick in his team's defensive zone.
Sho Sasaki from Sanfrecce Hiroshima earns a free kick in his team's defensive zone.
The fourth official has indicated that there will be two minutes of stoppage time.
Akito Suzuki from Sanfrecce Hiroshima earns a free kick in his team's defensive zone.
Zim allowed a goal, with Sho Sasaki being the one responsible for it.
Shuto Nakano from Sanfrecce Hiroshima commits a foul.
Zim is awarded a free kick in their own half.
Missed opportunity. Ryo Germain from Sanfrecce Hiroshima heads the ball from the center of the box, but it goes wide to the right. The chance was created by Takaaki Shichi after a set piece.
Zim receives a yellow card for committing a serious foul.
Akito Suzuki from Sanfrecce Hiroshima earns a free kick in the opponent's half.
Zim is awarded a free kick in their own half.
Shuto Nakano from Sanfrecce Hiroshima commits a foul.
A shot attempt is thwarted. Ryo Germain from Sanfrecce Hiroshima takes a right-footed strike from the middle of the penalty area, but it gets blocked.
Taishi Matsumoto of Sanfrecce Hiroshima earns a free kick on the left side of the field.
Taishi Matsumoto from Sanfrecce Hiroshima earns a free kick on the left side of the field.
The pause has ended. They are set to resume play.
Ryo GermainYellow CardRyo Germain of Sanfrecce Hiroshima receives a yellow card for committing a serious foul.
Zim is awarded a free kick in their own half.
Ryo Germain from Sanfrecce Hiroshima committed a foul.
Tsukasa Shiotani from Sanfrecce Hiroshima is awarded a free kick in his team's defensive zone.
Zim allowed a goal scored by Hayato Araki.
Zim receives a yellow card for committing a serious foul.
Taishi Matsumoto from Sanfrecce Hiroshima earns a free kick in his team's defensive zone.
Corner kick awarded to Sanfrecce Hiroshima after Jonathan Silva allowed the ball to go out.
Tsukasa Shiotani from Sanfrecce Hiroshima is awarded a free kick in his team's defensive zone.
Ryo Germain from Sanfrecce Hiroshima committed a foul.
Ryo Germain from Sanfrecce Hiroshima commits a foul.
Corner kick awarded to Sanfrecce Hiroshima, following a deflection off Raúl Parra.
Shuto Nakano from Sanfrecce Hiroshima earns a free kick on the right side.
Missed opportunity! Hayato Araki from Sanfrecce Hiroshima heads the ball from the center of the box, but it goes wide to the left. The chance was set up by Takaaki Shichi, who delivered a cross after a corner kick.
Corner kick awarded to Sanfrecce Hiroshima after Cristian Glauder allowed the ball to go out of play.
A shot attempt is thwarted. Hayao Kawabe from Sanfrecce Hiroshima takes a right-footed strike from the center of the penalty area, but it gets blocked.
Zim attempts a right-footed strike from the left side of the penalty area, but it's deflected away.
Zim is awarded a free kick in the opponent's half.
Akito Suzuki of Sanfrecce Hiroshima commits a foul.
Taishi Matsumoto from Sanfrecce Hiroshima earns a free kick on the left flank.
Corner kick awarded to Sanfrecce Hiroshima, following a play that resulted in a deflection off Raúl Parra.
Shuto Nakano from Sanfrecce Hiroshima has been awarded a free kick in his team's defensive zone.
Tsukasa Shiotani from Sanfrecce Hiroshima is awarded a free kick in his team's defensive zone.
Zim is awarded a free kick on the left flank.
Marcos Guilherme has been flagged for being in an offside position.
Sho Sasaki commits a foul for Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
The opening half is underway...
The team rosters have been revealed, and the players are currently going through their warm-up routines.
Johor Darul Ta'zim hold a commanding 2-0 aggregate lead heading into the second leg of their AFC Champions League Elite Round of 16 tie at Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima. The Malaysian champions need just one positive result to reach a historic quarterfinal, while Sanfrecce Hiroshima must produce a comeback performance in front of their home fans.
