Football · International
Johor withstand Hiroshima pressure to reach the last eight
A 1-0 second-leg defeat still left Johor Darul Ta’zim ahead on aggregate.
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Johor Darul Ta’zim reached the AFC Champions League Elite quarter-finals for the first time despite losing 1-0 away to Sanfrecce Hiroshima. Their 3-1 first-leg victory proved decisive, producing a 3-2 aggregate success after a difficult evening in Japan.
Hiroshima created repeated chances, with Hayao Kawabe, Hayato Araki and Ryo Germain among those unable to break through. Johor also threatened on the counter, and goalkeeper Keisuke Osako pushed an Oscar Arribas effort against the post as the visitors protected their advantage.
Kosuke Kinoshita finally converted a penalty at the end of normal time after a handball by Nene. The goal narrowed the aggregate margin but left Hiroshima without enough time to overturn it, allowing Johor to join three other eastern clubs in the quarter-finals.
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