Sanfrecce Hiroshima kicked off their AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26 (East Zone) campaign with a commanding second-half display, defeating Melbourne City 2-0 at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on Tuesday night.
Goals from Marcos Junior and Yotaro Nakajima ensured Michael Skibbe’s side made a winning start, overcoming a cagey first half played on a slick pitch following a heavy pre-match downpour.
The opening 45 minutes saw few clear-cut chances. Hiroshima’s best opportunity came in the 29th minute when Patrick Beach produced a superb reflex save to deny Marcos Junior’s volley from close range. Just before the break, Marcos Junior again caused panic, whipping a dangerous ball into the area that forced Aziz Behich into a desperate clearance.
After halftime, the tempo shifted. Melbourne’s Andreas Kuen squandered a rare chance, blazing over from 20 yards in the 48th minute. Minutes later, Hiroshima seized their moment.
In the 52nd minute, Mutsuki Kato split the Melbourne defence with a clever flick, sending Marcos Junior through on goal. As the Brazilian surged forward, he was clipped by Beach inside the box. Dusting himself off, the forward coolly converted from the penalty spot, sending the keeper the wrong way for a 1-0 lead.
Kato thought he had doubled the advantage soon after, finding the net in the 57th minute, but the goal was chalked off for offside. Hiroshima continued to press, with Naoki Maeda coming close from distance.
Melbourne City’s best chance of the night arrived in the 76th minute when Nathaniel Atkinson broke into the box, but the fullback dragged his shot wide under pressure.
Hiroshima punished that miss with a killer second goal. In the 81st minute, Kato combined smartly with Shuto Nakano down the left, whose pinpoint cross was bravely headed home by Yotaro Nakajima, sealing a clinical away victory.
The result sends an early warning to rivals in the East Zone, as Hiroshima look to carry their strong J1 League form onto the continental stage. For Melbourne City, the defeat leaves them searching for answers ahead of their next fixture in a tough group phase.
Credit Photo : Kamarul Akhir/AFC
