Tag: DAZN

A DAZN Match Report | April 26, 2026

FC Machida Zelvia made history this season. It was the club’s first-ever appearance in the AFC Champions League Elite (ACLE — Asia’s top club competition, equivalent to the UEFA Champions League in Europe). And they did not just take part — they reached the final. They even had a chance to win the title in their very first attempt. For the fourth year in a row, a J.League club reached the ACLE final. However, since the tournament moved to a centralized Finals format held in Saudi Arabia, both Yokohama F. Marinos and Kawasaki Frontale lost in the final. Zelvia would face that same challenge.

In the 2025/26 season, Machida Zelvia were the ones to step onto that stage. They won both the quarterfinal and the semifinal 1-0. Both matches were tough. Some refereeing decisions went in their favor. But in a centralized tournament held entirely in Saudi Arabia, there is no home advantage for anyone. Head coach Tsuyoshi Kuroda is a highly experienced manager. Before moving to professional football, he won the All Japan High School Soccer Championship — Japan’s top high school football knockout tournament — seven times. This result showed his skill in managing knockout-format matches.

With CyberAgent as the club’s owner and president Daisuke Fujita driving an ambitious vision, Machida had built steadily toward this moment. In the starting lineup, two familiar names stood out — goalkeeper Kosei Tani and defensive midfielder Neta Lavi, both of whom had previously played for Gamba Osaka. For Gamba Osaka supporters watching, it was a bittersweet sight.

Starting XI for FC Machida Zelvia: GK: Kosei Tani | DF: Gen Shoji, Yuta Nakayama, Daihachi Okamura | MF: Hiroyuki Mae, Kotaro Hayashi, Neta Lavi, Hotaka Nakamura | FW: Yuki Soma, Eliki, Tete Yengi

First Half

Just after kick-off, the television picture turned hazy white. Flares were being lit inside the stadium. The atmosphere became intense immediately. Confetti from the pre-match celebrations was still scattered across the pitch.

Al-Ahli controlled the early stages. They spent a lot of time in Machida’s half. Still, in the 9th minute, Hotaka Nakamura met a cross from Yuki Soma with a header and forced a save from the goalkeeper.

In the 13th minute, Gareno broke through and found himself one-on-one with goalkeeper Kosei Tani. Tani made a superb save. The rebound was cleared by Daihachi Okamura. After that, Machida took control for a period, but neither side scored.

As many had feared, there were several refereeing decisions in the first half that seemed to go against Machida. Even so, Machida are one of the best teams in the current J.League at managing a match. They press with high intensity and are also able to use a more defensive, physical style when needed. They can hold on even when things are not going their way.

In the 42nd minute, a cross into the box drew players from both teams. Tani could not reach it. Al-Ahli’s shot hit the crossbar and went out. The first half ended 0-0. Considering how Kawasaki and Yokohama had struggled in this same final in the two previous years, Machida had performed very well.

Second Half

Neither team made substitutions at the start of the second half. Al-Ahli continued to have more possession, but Machida defended well and kept the clock moving.

In the 62nd minute, Na Sang-ho came on for Eliki. Al-Ahli also made a substitution at the same time. Almost immediately, VAR (Video Assistant Referee) reviewed a challenge by Neta Lavi, but no penalty was given.

In the 68th minute, tensions boiled over. After the ball went out of play, Yengi appeared to provoke an opponent. An Al-Ahli player responded with a headbutt and was shown a red card (sent off). This caused objects, including plastic bottles, to be thrown from the stands onto the pitch. The atmosphere in the stadium became very hostile.

With a man advantage, the key question was how Machida would respond. Pushing forward would create chances, but it would also leave them open to counter-attacks. This was a critical moment for coach Kuroda.

In the 73rd minute, Hiroyuki Mae struck a powerful long-range shot, but the opposing goalkeeper saved it. In the 76th minute, during a short corner routine, Yuki Soma and Yuta Nakayama collided with each other and both went down.

In the 81st minute, after sustained pressure, Soma shot but was stopped by the goalkeeper. Mae’s cutback then hit Yengi and did not go in.

Al-Ahli created some chances of their own, but Machida dealt with them. In the 89th minute, Shota Fujio and Hokuto Shimoda came on for Yengi and Neta Lavi. Almost immediately after coming on, Fujio fouled an opponent in a situation far away from the ball — very much in keeping with his reputation as a combative player.

Five minutes of added time were shown. Given all the stoppages — including the red card incident — more might have been expected. In the confusion, an Al-Ahli player went down after light contact inside Machida’s penalty area. At almost the same moment, a red card was shown to someone on the Al-Ahli bench — it was unclear exactly what he had said or done, but he had clearly reached his limit. In contrast, Machida remained calm throughout.

In the 97th minute, Yuta Nakayama was replaced by Dresevic (Dorde Dresevic), and the second half came to an end. The match went to extra time.

Extra Time

The first period of extra time started at a pace that suited Machida. Then, in the 96th minute, Al-Ahli attacked down the right side. Several players rushed in and one of them scored. It was the first goal Machida had conceded in this entire Finals stage.

In the 99th minute, coach Kuroda replaced Hotataka Nakamura with Henry Mizuki Mochizuki. The change signaled a shift toward a more physical, direct attacking approach. In the 103rd minute, Mochizuki met a cross from Soma with a header, but the shot went wide. The first period of extra time ended 1-0 to Al-Ahli.

In the second period of extra time, coach Kuroda replaced Gen Shoji with Keiya Sendo, shifting to a more attack-minded shape. Machida created some chances, but none were clear enough. Without Neta Lavi in central midfield, the team lacked stability. Soma, who is central to Machida’s attacking play, had not been able to show his best form all evening. That made things even more difficult.

In the 120th minute, the goalkeeper spilled a cross from Soma, but Machida could not convert. Only two minutes of added time were played. The final chance came from a long throw-in, but Al-Ahli defended it. The final whistle blew. Al-Ahli won the title for the second year in a row.

Summary

A home-and-away final format might have told a different story. Conceding in extra time while playing with a numerical advantage made the defeat all the more painful. It truly came down to the finest of margins. There is a certain irony, though: Machida’s strength as a team lies in defensive, counter-attacking football built on set pieces. Having an extra man actually pushed them into a style of play that does not suit them.

One image that will stay long in the memory: the supporters. They jumped and sang with everything they had, right until the very final whistle.

What Comes Next

As things stand, Machida have not yet secured a place in the ACLE for next season. They have qualified for the ACL2 (the second tier of the AFC Champions League, one level below the ACLE) through winning the Emperor’s Cup (Japan’s main national cup competition, open to all clubs across all divisions). However, the path back to the ACLE remains uncertain.

The ACLE has expanded. Japan now has three direct entry spots and two spots through a playoff round. Machida are currently sixth in the J.League this season. Breaking into the top three or four looks difficult from here. For now, winning the ACL2 is likely to be their main continental goal for next season.

The ACL2 final will be held on May 17. The match-up is Al-Nassr (Saudi Arabia) vs. Gamba Osaka (Japan) — the same Saudi Arabia vs. Japan storyline as the ACLE final. Unlike the ACLE, the ACL2 final is not played at a neutral, centralized venue. Instead, it is played at the home grounds of the two finalists in alternating years. This year, the West region hosts the final, which means the match will be played at Al-Nassr’s home stadium — again, the same situation as the ACLE. We can only hope that Gamba Osaka bring the title home and restore J.League pride.