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Sanfrecce Hiroshima narrowly defeats Sydney in the AFC Cup
Hiroshima, Japan – Sanfrecce Hiroshima edged out Sydney FC 2-1 in a thrilling AFC Cup group stage match. The Japanese side dominated the encounter with dynamic, attacking football, but the Australians battled hard until the end.
The first goal arrived in the 20th minute, courtesy of S. Higashi, assisted by N. Arai. Sanfrecce Hiroshima continued to press, and in the 55th minute, P. Sotiriou doubled the lead with a goal assisted by T. Arslan.
Sydney pulled one back in the 90th minute with a goal by A. Segecic, after a pass from M. Burgess, but it was too late to mount a comeback.
Despite receiving three yellow cards, Sanfrecce Hiroshima controlled the match with 40% possession and 11 shots, 4 of which were on target. Sydney, on the other hand, had 60% possession and 16 shots, 5 of which were on target.
The match was refereed by Yahya Ali Mohammed Hassan Almulla, from the United Arab Emirates.
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Substitutions sanfrecce hiroshima: at minute 8 T. Shiotani came in and H. Araki went out., at minute 46 P. Sotiriou came in and G. Paciencia went out., at minute 68 Y. Nakajima came in and T. Arslan went out.
Substitutions sydney: at minute 57 C. Hollman came in and Douglas Costa went out., at minute 79 A. Segecic came in and Leo Sena went out., at minute 87 M. Burgess came in and A. Ouahim went out., at minute 87 J. King came in and J. Courtney-Perkins went out.
The teams lined up as follows:
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Titulares:
Sydney
Titulares:
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