Jeonbuk, Kashiwa and Shanghai Port Bank Tuesday Wins in AFC Champions League Elite

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors made home advantage count in Jeonju, beating Johor Darul Ta'zim 2-0 to register their second win of this season's AFC Champions League Elite campaign. Both goals came before half-time, with Bruno Mota opening the scoring in the 22nd minute from Kim Jin-Gyu's pass and Italo Vargas adding the second on the stroke of half-time, and the Korean side never looked like surrendering that lead. It was a composed, professional display from a team that has grown into the competition, and the three points keep their hopes of a strong finish to the league phase firmly alive. In Japan, Kashiwa Reysol were just as comfortable, beating Daejeon Hana Citizen 2-0 at the Sankyo Frontier Kashiwa Stadium. A goalless first half gave way to a decisive second, with Keita Endo breaking the deadlock two minutes after the restart and Shota Fujio doubling the lead ten minutes later. The result underlined Kashiwa's organisation and patience, as they waited for their chances and took them clinically. The liveliest game of the night came in Australia, where Shanghai Port fought back to beat Newcastle Jets 4-2. Two goals in three first-half minutes turned the match in the visitors' favour, and the Chinese Super League side steadied themselves after last week's defeat to Cong An Ha Noi to get their campaign back on track. For Newcastle, the defeat was a reminder of how unforgiving this competition can be against experienced continental opposition.