Melbourne City achieved a thrilling 2-1 victory against Japan’s Machida Zelvia in the Asian Champions League Elite, with a decisive goal from substitute Andrew Nabbout deep into stoppage time. Nabbout’s strike in the 94th minute, which hit the underside of the crossbar, secured a second consecutive last-minute win for the Australian team, following their previous success against Buriram United.
The match began with a surprising turn when Machida’s captain, Gen Shoji, inadvertently gifted Melbourne City the lead just 30 seconds into the game with a misdirected backpass that slipped past goalkeeper Kosei Tani. However, Henry Mochizuki equalized for Machida in the 24th minute with a composed finish, setting the stage for a competitive encounter.
Melbourne City goalkeeper Patrick Beach played a crucial role, making several vital saves to keep his team in contention as Machida pushed for a second goal. Beach’s performance was instrumental, particularly in denying attempts from Na Sang-ho and others. “So proud of the team,” Beach said after the match. “We dug deep and we believed. Everyone put in a great shift.”
As the match progressed, Melbourne City intensified their efforts to reclaim the lead. In the dying moments of the game, Nabbout capitalized on a blocked shot from Kavian Rahmani. His volley found its way in after hitting the crossbar, and there was a brief moment of uncertainty before the goal was confirmed, much to the relief of the visitors.
This win propelled Melbourne City to sixth place in the standings with six points, just behind Buriram United, who defeated Shanghai Port 2-0 in their match. Supachai Chaided opened the scoring for Buriram in the 15th minute, while former Melbourne City defender Curtis Good added the second goal in the 65th minute, leaving Shanghai at the bottom of the group with only one point.
The knockout rounds of the tournament are fast approaching, with the top eight teams in the 12-team table qualifying for the next stage, set to commence in March 2024. The quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final will take place in a centralized format in Saudi Arabia in April.
In related matches, Sanfrecce Hiroshima climbed to second place in the standings following a 1-0 victory over South Korea’s Gangwon FC. Mutsuki Kato scored the only goal of the match in the 63rd minute, despite Hiroshima finishing the game with ten players after Sho Sasaki was sent off for a second yellow card. Meanwhile, FC Seoul managed a goalless draw against China’s Chengdu Rongcheng, allowing them to edge into the top eight.
As the group stage continues, the competition remains fierce, with only three points separating teams from second to eleventh place in the standings. The upcoming matches will be crucial in determining which teams advance to the knockout phase of the tournament.
