NOV 25,(V7N) -J. League leaders Vissel Kobe clinched the Emperor's Cup with a 1-0 victory over Gamba Osaka at the National Stadium in Tokyo on Saturday. The only goal of the match came in the 64th minute, when Taisei Miyashiro scored from close range after Yoshinori Muto's low cross found his path in front of goal. This marks Kobe’s second Emperor's Cup victory, with their first coming in 2020. Miyashiro acknowledged the challenge posed by Gamba Osaka, saying, "We had to persevere today. Gamba played some great football and we had a tough time in the first half."
Vissel Kobe’s victory keeps them on track for a league and cup double, as they continue their strong form in the J.League.
Shandong Port Completes Chinese League and Cup Double
In China, Shandong Port secured the Chinese Super League and FA Cup double, overcoming Shandong Taishan 3-1 to win the FA Cup for the first time in their history. Zeca, a Brazilian midfielder for Shandong, halved the deficit early in the second half, but Wang Zhenao sealed the win with a goal in stoppage time. The triumph adds to Shandong's league title earlier this season, cementing their place at the top of Chinese football.
Al-Ittihad Move Top of Saudi Pro League After Al-Hilal Defeat
In Saudi Arabia, Al-Ittihad rose to the top of the Saudi Pro League with a 2-0 win over Al-Fateh on Sunday. Fabinho and Houssem Aouar scored second-half goals to secure the victory, which lifted Al-Ittihad to first place, two points ahead of their rivals. Earlier in the weekend, Al-Hilal, the reigning champions, suffered a shock 3-2 loss to Al-Fateh. Despite a strong first-half performance with goals from Marcos Leonardo and Aleksandar Mitrovic, Al-Hilal couldn’t hold onto the lead as Abdullah Al-Salem scored a brace and Fabio Martins added a late goal for Al-Fateh.
Auckland FC Continue Perfect A-League Start
Auckland FC continued their perfect start to their debut season in the A-League, picking up a 1-0 win over Macarthur FC on Sunday. Guillermo May scored the only goal of the match in the 34th minute, maintaining Auckland's top spot in the league. The win moves Auckland clear at the top, with Wellington Phoenix second on 10 points after their 1-0 win over Melbourne Victory, who dropped to third.
Shanghai Port Secures First Chinese FA Cup Title
Shanghai Port won the Chinese FA Cup for the first time in their history on Saturday, completing their domestic double by defeating Shandong Taishan 3-1. Li Shuai opened the scoring in the 37th minute with a header from Gustavo's cross, and Feng Jing doubled the advantage in first-half stoppage time. Despite a late goal from Shandong, Shanghai Port held on to claim the cup.
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