Nonthaburi: Substitute Yu Kobayashi scored one and made another as Kawasaki Frontale came from behind to claim a 3-1 victory over Muangthong United in the first-leg of the 2017 AFC Champions League Round of 16 on Tuesday.
After an even beginning at Thunderdome Stadium, Chanathip Songkrasin almost drew first blood on 35 minutes but his powerful effort from 15 yards was tipped over by Jung Sung-ryong.
The hosts then did take the lead in first-half stoppage time when Chanathip dummied Theeraton Bunmathan’s ball allowing captain Teerasil Dangda to take one touch, turn and fire into the bottom right corner from 20 yards.
But Kawasaki came back strongly after the interval and levelled on 66 minutes when Kengo Nakamura chested down Shintaro Kurumaya’s header across goal before finishing past goalkeeper Kawin Thamsatchanan.
Three minutes later the visitors were in front as Kobayashi expertly volleyed in Akihiro Ienaga’s centre, before the goalscorer turned provider to tee up Hiroyuki Abe to tap home a minute from time and give Kawasaki a commanding advantage heading into the second-leg in Japan in seven days’ time.
Photo: AFC
Source: the-afc.com