JDT move ahead in Asian Champions League tie with Hiroshima, Vissel Kobe claim win

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/joo-sung-kim/fihnFope/"]Kim Ju-sung[/a]'s dismissal for ‌a second bookable offence in the 26th minute in ‌Johor left the Japanese side short-handed and the Malaysian champions [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/johor-dt-AVV6BGlb/sanfrecce-hiroshima-fX7MRdvd/?mid=fi6tBoXo"]took full ‌advantage[/a] through second-half goals from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/aketxe-ager/CGbL8vih/"]Ager Aketxe[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bergson/W8uCl9qP/"]Bergson da ‌Silva[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/guilherme-marcos/dzBaGgS3/"]Marcos Guilherme[/a].[/p][p][b]"We're very happy with the result,"[/b] said Aketxe. [b]"The red card for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sanfrecce-hiroshima/fX7MRdvd/"]Hiroshima[/a] gave us an advantage but our team was very committed ‌and worked hard.[/b][/p][p][b]"Because of the goal we ⁠conceded, we need to keep ‌working and be ready for the second leg."[/b][/p][p]Kim was sent off when ​he caught JDT midfielder Nene in the face with a flailing arm and the Japanese side succumbed in ​the heat and humidity of southern Malaysia.[/p][p]Aketxe put JDT in front with an unerring strike past [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/osako-keisuke/lj1TfyEN/"]Keisuke Osako[/a] in the 52nd ⁠minute as the Hiroshima ​defence only partially cleared [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mendez-nacho/2FGMRAob/"]Nacho Mendez[/a]'s corner.[/p][embed guid="0df2466e-54ad-43b6-bc0b-008a5d968748" url="https://x.com/TheAFCCL/status/2029201872913875296" social-type="twitter" /][p]Eleven minutes later the home side doubled their lead, Bergson finding the top corner after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/israfilov-eddy/OvOEui0D/"]Eddy Israfilov[/a]'s cutback and Guilherme added the third when he finished off ‌a blistering counter-attack.[/p][p]Nene's late own goal as the JDT defence failed to clear [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nakano-shuto/nozTiQDq/"]Shuto Nakano[/a]'s long throw gave Hiroshima a glimmer of hope ahead of the return clash in Japan next Wednesday.[/p][p][b]Vissel Kobe, meanwhile, will [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/seoul-8tzeYeHp/vissel-kobe-698tGI9q/?mid=8ECd73WA"]take a one-goal advantage[/a] into the second leg of their last-16 meeting with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/seoul/8tzeYeHp/"]FC Seoul[/a] after defender [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/thuler/fVzFUKpP/"]Matheus Thuler[/a] scored the only goal in South Korea.[/b][/p][p]The Brazilian stooped to nod the ball over the line from close range in ‌the 23rd minute to give Michael Skibbe's side a slender ​advantage.[/p][p]The quarter-finals, semi-finals and final of the Asian Champions League ‌Elite are due to be played in a centralised format in Jeddah in April although the ongoing crisis in the Middle East has thrown the schedule into doubt.[/p][p]Last-16 matches that were due to be played in west Asia this ⁠week and next have been ⁠postponed following the attacks ‌by the US and Israel on Iran.[/p]