The third matchday of the 2025-2026 AFC Champions League Elite marketing campaign introduced two wins for Okay League sides over their J.League counterparts, with Ulsan HD and Gangwon FC triumphing, however FC Seoul suffered their first loss, succumbing to a 2-0 away defeat to Sha,nghai Shenhua, whereas Pohang in ACL Two suffered defeat away to Tampines Rovers in Group H.
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AFC Champions League Elite
Tuesday twenty first October
Ulsan HD 1-0 Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Constructing on the 2-0 win over Gwangju FC, Ulsan made it two wins in every week underneath caretaker supervisor Noh Sang-rae because of a 1-0 house conquer Sanfrecce Hiroshima. Kim Min-hyeok’s strike 12 minutes in proved to be sufficient for the Horangi. Ulsan dug in to earn the three factors, with the aim being the one shot they registered on the right track from three in complete. Sanfrecce, alternatively, had 21 makes an attempt at aim however solely three discovered the goal.
Wendesday twenty second October
Gangwon FC 4-3 Vissel Kobe
Gangwon FC emerged victorious from a Korea-Japan seven-goal thriller on Wednesday, placing late into proceedings to retake the lead. Gangwon had really struck early at house to the J1 champions with Lee Sang-heon opening the scoring on seven minutes. Gangwon thought they’d doubled their lead very shortly after, however Lee Sang-heon’s close-range effort on the rebound was dominated out for offside.
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One other aim was dominated out on 20 minutes when Mo Jae-hyeon’s glancing header from a nook discovered the again of the online, offside once more the rationale, with Search engine optimisation Min-woo initially adjudged to have been interfering with play in entrance of the goalkeeper. However a VAR examine overturned the choice, and the aim stood – 2-0 with barely 20 minutes on the clock. A 3rd aim adopted by way of a clear strike from the sting of the field by left again Track Jun-seok. However the begin of the second half noticed a Kobe fightback with two objectives in as many minutes, first from Taisei Miyashiro, then Patrick. A second Taisei Miyashiro strike got here within the 89th minute to make it 3-3, however Kim Gun-hee made it 4-3 to make sure the factors have been Gangwon’s.
Shanghai Shenhua 2-0 FC Seoul
FC Seoul suffered their first loss of the present AFC Champions League Elite marketing campaign, falling to a 2-0 away defeat to Shanghai Shenhua. It was a match that noticed FC Seoul take pleasure in massive spells of possession, 67% total, and 21 photographs to 14 for the hosts. However solely 5 made the goal, regardless of 12 makes an attempt coming from contained in the field. Kim Gi-dong mentioned within the post-match press convention that he needed to reward his gamers for his or her effort. He had restored goalkeeper Kang Hyeon-mu to the beginning XI and fielded 5 overseas gamers with Lingard up high alongside Marko Dugandzic, Anderson and Lucas Silva on the flanks, and Yazan Al-Arab again on the coronary heart of the defence.
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AFC Champions League Two
Thursday twenty third October
Tampines Rovers 1-0 Pohang Steelers
A aim with simply 15 seconds on the clock from Italian ahead Disguise Vitalucci was sufficient to sentence a rotated Pohang Steelers aspect to their first ACL Two defeat to Singaporean aspect Tampines Rovers. Vitalucci latched onto a harmful ball into the channel, held off Pohang defender Jonathan Aspropotamitis earlier than expertly discovering the highest nook. Pohang did their utmost to hit again and had 75% possession, 20 photographs, with eight discovering the goal, however Vitalucci’s strike went with out reply. The 2 groups will meet on the Metal Yard in a fortnight’s time.
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ACL Matchday 4 Fixtures
Tuesday 4th November
Sanfrecce Hiroshima (JPN) vs. Gangwon FC – 19:00
FC Seoul vs. Chengdu Rongcheng (CHN) – 19:00 KST
Wednesday fifth November
Vissel Kobe (JPN) vs. Ulsan HD – 19:00
Thursday sixth November
Pohang Steelers vs. Tampines Rovers (SGP) – 19:00