Sanfrecce Hiroshima beat last year’s ACL runners-up FC Seoul 2-1 at home in their third game of this year’s Asian club championship thanks to Shiotani Tsukasa’s tie-breaker on Wednesday night.
　But Kawasaki Frontale lost 1-0 at the hands of Western Sydney Wanderers in Australia.
　In Hiroshima, the two-time J. League champions broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute when Takahagi Yojiro blasted home a Hisato Sato pass with his right foot.
　Seoul, guided by former J. League forward Choi Yong Soo, leveled the scores in the 60th minute when Brazilian Rafael headed in a Choi Hyun Tae pass.
　The hosts accelerated their attack and threatened the Seoul goal with attempts from defender Shiotani and substitute forward Ishihara Naoki.
　Hiroshima broke the tie in the 78th minute. Takahagi, who set the attacking pace for the home team, delivered a fine through ball to Shiotani. The Hiroshima defender neatly chipped the ball past Seoul goalkeeper Kim Yong Dae with his right foot, helping Moriyasu Hajime’s side mark their first win in their ninth ACL game.
　Coupled with Beijing Guoan’s 2-1 home win over Central Coast Mariners, Hiroshima improved their points total to four and moved up to second on goal difference ahead of Seoul. Leaders Beijing have five points, while Central Coast are fourth with three points.
　“I’m delighted as we collected three points with this win,” said Moriyasu. “This win will bring us confidence and will help us move on towards qualification for the next stage.
　“Every player on our team ran hard and fought hard to get the best of their opponents in one-on-one situations, and also we had better possession and could attack with our style. Their efforts brought us this win. I’m also happy that we changed around our team and were still able to produce the win.”
　In Sydney, Kawasaki started with Okubo Yoshito, Renato, Nakamura Kengo and Paulinho on the bench and they fell behind three minutes into the game when Labinot Haliti scored.
　Kawasaki manager Yahiro Kazama was forced to make a substitution in the 27th minute when Noborizato Kyohei picked up an injury.
　The J. League side played better in the second half thanks to halftime substitute Nakamura, who helped his team create good opportunities. Okubo took to the pitch in the 67th minute but Kawasaki were unable to find the target.
　In the other Group H game, Ulsan Hyundai of Korea Republic were held to a 1-1 draw by Guizhou Renhe of China at home.
　Kawasaki remain on three points in third place in Group H, four behind leaders Ulsan Hyundai and three behind Western Sydney. Guizhou sit at the bottom of the table with one point.