Vissel Kobe Tops Asian Champions League Standings

Japan's Vissel Kobe ascended to the top of the eastern zone in the Asian Champions League Elite with a decisive 2-0 victory over Gwangju FC, ending the South Korean team's unbeaten start. Taisei Miyashiro scored from the penalty spot just before half-time, and Daiju Sasaki added a second nine minutes into the second half, marking Kobe's third win in four matches. Concurrently, Kawasaki Frontale secured a 3-1 win against Shanghai Port, with notable performances from Akihiro Ienaga, Yusuke Segawa, and Sai van Wermeskerken. Johor Darul Ta'zim also made headlines with a commanding 3-0 victory over Ulsan HD, leaving the latter without a point at the bottom of the standings. The top eight teams will advance to the knockout rounds in Saudi Arabia, scheduled for March through May. Upcoming matches include Yokohama F Marinos facing Buriram United and Pohang Steelers hosting Shandong Taishan.