A resounding surprise.. Machida topples the federation in Asia

The Machida Zelvia team qualified for the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League for the Elite, after its valuable victory over Al-Ittihad with a goal without a response, in the confrontation that brought them together in the quarter-finals at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium.The match was a direct elimination system from one match, ensuring that the Japanese team passed directly to the next round without the need for back-and-forth calculations.The match witnessed a clear advantage for Al-Ittihad in terms of possession, as the team imposed its control over the course of the proceedings. Playing at a rate of 63%, he intensified his attacking attempts through 13 shots, but he lacked effectiveness in front of the goal.On the other hand, Machida Zelvia played in a balanced style, relying on defensive organization and quick counterattacks, and he succeeded in exploiting one of his few opportunities.Tite Yenge scored the only goal of the match in the 31st minute, taking advantage of an accurate pass that put him in front of the goal, to give his team the advantage that it maintained until Final whistle.Al-Ittihad tried to return in the second half through several attempts, but haste and poor final touch prevented them from achieving an equaliser, despite the constant pressure on the Japanese team’s defence.The last minutes witnessed a controversial situation after a handball was awarded to Danilo Pereira in the 86th minute, but it did not change the outcome of the match.With this victory, Machida Zelvia continues his journey in the tournament steadily, while Al-Ittihad bid farewell to the competition despite a good performance, in the match. It reflected the difference between possession and effectiveness in front of goal.