Port FC were left pointless after a 1-2 home defeat to Vissel Kobe in Matchday 1 of the AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27 League Stage(East Zone) at Thammasat Staidum, Pathum Thani.
The two sides met on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, in an East Zone clash that swung back and forth before Vissel Kobe held on to snatch all three points on the road.
Vissel Kobe made the ideal start, breaking the deadlock inside 10 minutes when Issei Takahashi picked out Ren Komatsu, who made no mistake in front of goal to put the visitors 1-0 up.
Port FC hit back right at the end of the first half, however, drawing level deep into stoppage time. In the 45+3rd minute, the hosts worked a corner routine that saw the ball find its way into the Vissel Kobe box, where Issam Al Sahbi rose to meet it with a header — only for the ball to strike Ren Komatsu’s arm and deflect past his own goalkeeper, levelling the score at 1-1 and sending the home crowd into celebration right on the stroke of half-time.
Neither side could find a further breakthrough before the break, and the two teams went in level at 1-1.
The second half swung back in Vissel Kobe’s favour in the 61st minute, as Yoshinori Muto latched onto a ball that broke into the Port FC penalty area, slipping it past the home defence and into the net to put the Japanese side back in front at 2-1.
Despite pushing for a second equaliser, Port FC couldn’t find a way back into the contest, and the match ultimately finished 1-2 in Vissel Kobe’s favour.
Credit Photo : AFC
