Late Vissel goals overturn Seoul’s second-leg lead

Vissel Kobe returned to the AFC Champions League Elite quarter-finals by defeating FC Seoul 2-1 in the second leg. The Japanese club advanced 3-1 on aggregate, reaching the last eight for the first time since 2022 after their round-of-sixteen exit last season.

Patryk Klimala’s header gave Seoul a first-half lead and levelled the aggregate score. Vissel struggled to convert their opportunities, while goalkeeper Daiya Maekawa made important saves after the interval to keep the tie within reach.

Substitute Yuya Osako restored Vissel’s advantage by converting Yoshinori Muto’s cross in the seventy-eighth minute. Yosuke Ideguchi then capitalised on a poor clearance to chip the goalkeeper late in normal time, securing both the second-leg victory and qualification.