Debutant Machida Zelvia of Japan progress in Asian Champions League

Machida Zelvia from Japan earned a spot in the quarter-finals of the Asian Champions League during their inaugural participation by overcoming South Koreas Gangwon with a 1-0 victory in the second leg of the last-16 encounter on Tuesday.

The team from Machida, which competed in non-league divisions under 15 years prior, advanced on a 1-0 aggregate scoreline following a first-half header from Hotaka Nakamura that proved decisive.

We were resolute in creating history for Machida, Nakamura remarked.

It proved a challenging match yet we have added a fresh chapter to the clubs story. We now proceed to the subsequent round and aim to deliver something remarkable to all observers.

Starting from the quarter-finals, the Asian Champions League adopts a single-leg knockout structure, with every fixture scheduled in Saudi Arabia during the coming month.

Last week, the Asian Football Confederation delayed last-16 fixtures involving Middle Eastern teams in response to strikes by the US and Israel against Iran.

After a 0-0 stalemate in South Korea the previous week, Machida and Gangwon commenced the return leg at the Japanese sides intimate venue located in Tokyos outskirts.

Machida encountered an initial setback as their Japanese international winger Yuki Soma exited due to injury after just 12 minutes.

The substitute Na Sang-ho delivered the key cross for the match-winning strike in the 25th minute, enabling Nakamura to arrive at the far post and nod the ball into the net.