Yokohama F Marinos Roar Back in Asian Champions League

Yokohama F Marinos rebounded from an opening day loss to defeat Ulsan HD 4-0 in the Asian Champions League. Goals from Watanabe, Nishimura, Lopes, and Mizunuma ensured victory. Vissel Kobe also won 2-1 against Shandong Taishan. The top eight teams progress to knockout stages in Saudi Arabia.

Yokohama F Marinos roared back from an opening day humiliation to thrash Ulsan HD 4-0 in their Asian Champions League campaign in Japan on Wednesday.

Marinos, who were runners-up last season, made amends for a 7-3 defeat to Gwangju FC with goals from Kota Watanabe, Takuma Nishimura, Anderson Lopes, and Kenta Mizunuma. Current J-League champions Vissel Kobe also secured three points, emerging 2-1 winners in a heated encounter with Chinese Super League team Shandong Taishan.

The result moves Kobe to four points from two games, two points behind Gwangju, the only team with a perfect record so far. Marinos reversed their poor recent form to secure a decisive victory over K-League leaders Ulsan HD.

Watanabe opened the scoring in the fourth minute, followed by Nishimura's counterattack goal at the end of the first half. Lopes added a third with a long-range shot, and Mizunuma sealed the win in stoppage time. Interim coach John Hutchison praised his side's performance and work ethic.

Hosts Vissel Kobe also celebrated their first win, with goals from Taisei Miyashiro and Gotoko Sakai edging out Shandong. Despite Cryzan's equalizer, Sakai restored the lead, and a chaotic finish saw Shandong's coach Choi Kang-hee receive a red card. The top eight finishers in both the western and eastern divisions advance to March's knockout rounds, with the later stages held in Saudi Arabia.

(With inputs from agencies.)