ACL Elite: Kashiwa Reysol Run Riot Port FC 5-1
Thai runners-up are blown away in the first half in Japan, and a late header from Manuel Bihr offers little consolation as Port stay pointless after two games
Port FC's Asian adventure took another blow on Wednesday as Kashiwa Reysol scored five times in the first 28 minutes on their way to a 5-1 win in the second round of the AFC Champions League Elite 2026/27 league stage(East zone) at Sankyo Frontier Kashiwa Stadium, Kashiwa.
The Thai side have now lost both of their matches and remain without a point. Kashiwa, who lost their opener at Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, have three points and have recorded their first win of the competition.
The hosts took the lead in the third minute when Tojiro Kubo finished a cross from Kenshin Yuba. An assistant referee raised the offside flag, but VAR checked the move and the goal was awarded.
Port were still adjusting when it became 2-0 in the 10th minute. Kubo's shot was saved, and Yuki Kakita pounced on the rebound. Five minutes later, Hinata Yamauchi won a penalty, and Riki Harakawa converted it to make it 3-0.
In the 26th minute, Koya Yuruki collected a poor clearance and hit a shot from the edge of the box that took a deflection off Noboru Shimura and went into the net. Two minutes after that, Yamauchi scored from inside the box to make it 5-0, completing the rout before the break.
Port made changes at half-time and looked a different side in the second half, putting Kashiwa under pressure. The breakthrough came in the 64th minute, when Manuel Bihr rose to head home from a corner on the right, which followed a Kashiwa error in their own half.
The Thai visitors kept pressing, but Kashiwa held firm, and no further goals came.
Kashiwa climb to eighth in the East table with three points from two games. Port are 15th with no points.
The result is a sharp contrast with the clubs' histories. Kashiwa returned to Asia's top club competition for the first time since 2018 after finishing second in the 2025 J1 League. Port, runners-up in the Thai League last season, are making their first appearance at this level.
Credit Photo : Port FC
