Goals by Leandro and Shuto Abe lifted J-League side FC Tokyo to a tough 2-1 Asian Champions
Leandro made up for an hour of frustration with a 61st-minute strike after being put into space on the left by a
Abe tapped in the second eight minutes from time after
The win lifted FC Tokyo to second in the group with seven points from four games. Their next game is on Monday against South Korean side Ulsan Hyundai, who lead the group with 10 points.
"This was a must-win game, and it required every man to give his all," Abe said. "It was the kind of ferocious game I haven't experienced much so it was a good experience."
Colombian
FC Tokyo had had the best of the possession for much of the game but had wasted a string of opportunities in an overly physical first-half.
Leandro missed two open shots and had a wicked drive tipped over the bar on a superb save by Li. Meanwhile, mercurial striker
The second half began with Adailton on for Nagai only for FC Tokyo to lose one of their spark plugs when
FC Tokyo keeper Go Hatano, who had had a quiet first half, made a good save in the 53rd minute. Five minutes later, a well-struck shot from Adailton rattled the bar five minutes later. The Brazilian's presence near the penalty area drew a crowd, allowing Leandro the opening he needed to finally break the deadlock.
==Kyodo
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