The fifth AFC Champions League match day of the 2025-2026 season was certainly one of combined fortunes for Okay League’s illustration. There was a giant win for FC Seoul over Chinese language Tremendous League champions Shanghai Port, however Gangwon FC suffered their second defeat on the bounce, and a much-rotated Ulsan HD facet laboured to a 0-0 draw at residence to Buriram United. In ACL Two, Pohang Steelers earned a 2-0 residence win over BG Pathum United to safe qualification to the knockout rounds.
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(Photograph by Lintao Zhang/Getty Pictures)
AFC Champions League Elite
Gangwon 1-3 Machida Zelvia
Gangwon FC misplaced 3-1 at residence to J1 League facet Machida Zelvia to make it back-to-back losses in AFC Champions League Elite for the primary time. Supervisor Jeong Kyung-ho fielded a powerful staff, nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient to cease the recently-crowned Emperor’s Cup champions. Keiya Sento opened the scoring 25 minutes in with a close-range header, earlier than Hokuto Shimoda made it 2-0 simply three minutes later by way of a free-kick into the highest right-hand nook. Zelvia then discovered a 3rd by means of Korean striker Oh Se-hun six minutes earlier than the interval.
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Park Ho-young, a half-time substitute for Marko Tuci, pulled a objective again for the Bears on 54 minutes, nevertheless it was an evening to neglect for Gangwon, who may have felt annoyed with the efficiency, significantly having had a lot of the ball – 68% to Zelvia’s 32% – however managed simply 4 photographs on course from 11 total makes an attempt. Zelvia have been scientific, discovering the again of the online with all three of their photographs on course from 10 total. Gangwon slip out of the qualification locations and into ninth. Up subsequent in ACLE is Buriram United away on December ninth.
Shanghai Port 1-3 FC Seoul
(Photograph by Lintao Zhang/Getty Pictures)
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FC Seoul have been in high-quality fettle of their 3-1 win over recently-crowned Chinese language Tremendous League champions Shanghai Port. It was the much-awaited second win within the competitors this season, with Kim Gi-dong’s males caught in second gear following the Match Day 2 win at residence to Buriram. Former England worldwide Jesse Lingard opened the scoring, opening his ACL account within the course of, with a beautiful staff objective within the forty eighth minute. A one-two from Marko Dugandzic and Choi Jun, then a wise move into Lingard 10 yards out was expertly transformed. The hosts levelled 10 minutes later however Seoul quickly regained their lead, this time it was scorer turning supplier when Lingard despatched in a cross from deep in direction of Lucas Silva, who duly headed residence. Lingard capped off an ideal evening for him and FC Seoul on 77 minutes. A deft first-time end 12 yards out from a wise ball by Hwang Do-yun made it 3-1 and three factors for Korea’s capital membership. It was FC Seoul’s first win over Shanghai Port, and first ACL away win since April 2017. Seoul sit fourth within the standings and face high-flying Melbourne Metropolis at residence subsequent on December tenth.
Ulsan HD 0-0 Buriram United
A closely rotated Ulsan HD facet drew 0-0 at residence to Buriram United, nearly retaining the Horangi within the qualification locations. With the Okay League 1 Spherical 38 match at residence to Jeju SK very a lot the precedence, caretaker supervisor Noh Sang-rae made 10 modifications to the facet that misplaced to Gwangju, with teenager Again In-woo the one participant to maintain their place. Ulsan will really feel as if the sport was theirs to win, having had 10 photographs with three on course to Buriram’s three, however none on course. Former Bucheon, Daejeon, and Suwon Bluewings centre again Ko Myeong-seok was a part of the Buriram again line that saved a clear sheet on the Munsu. Ulsan sit sixth, only a level away from the cut-off level, and face Machida Zelvia away subsequent on December ninth.
AFC Champions League Two
Pohang Steelers vs. BG Pathum United
Pohang Steelers booked their place within the knockout rounds of the AFC Champions League Two with a 2-0 residence win over Thai facet BG Pathum United. With fourth spot secured in Okay League 1, supervisor Park Tae-ha went full power along with his staff choice. It was his main marksman, Lee Ho-jae, who grabbed each of Pohang’s targets, with strikes both facet of half-time. Lee’s first was a composed and calm end round 12 yards out from a cutback from Shin Kwang-hoon, one contact with the left foot to manage, a second with the appropriate to seek out the underside nook. His second got here from a nook, nodding in Juninho Rocha’s inch-perfect cross kind of on the objective line. The win creates a niche of 4 factors with one group sport left to play. The Steelers journey to the Philippines to face Kaya for Match Day 6, whereas Group H leaders Tampines Rovers are away to BG Pathum United. Pohang might want to win closely towards Kaya, with Tampines Rovers holding the higher objective distinction by three targets.
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Upcoming Okay League in AFC Champions League Fixtures
Tuesday ninth Daecember
Machida Zelvia vs. Ulsan HD – 19:00 KST (ACLE)
Buriram United vs. Gangwon FC – 21:15 KST (ACLE)
Wednesday tenth December
FC Seoul vs. Melbourne Metropolis – 19:00 KST (ACLE)
Thursday eleventh December
Kaya F.C.–Iloilo vs. Pohang Steelers – 21:15 (ACL Two)