Machida Zelvia's dream run came to an end as ten-man Al-Ahli retained the Asian ⁠Champions League Elite title in extra time on Saturday. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/04/26/soccer/asian-champions-league-final-match/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #soccer #machidazelvia #alahli #asianchampionsleague
Machida Zelvia falls against Al-Ahli in extra time in Asian Champions League final

Matthias Jaissle's side became only the second team to retain the trophy in the ​Asian Champions League era.

The Japan Times
Machida Zelvia shared its clubhouse with senior citizens doing fitness classes less than a decade ago. Now it is one win away from being Asian champion. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/04/24/soccer/machida-acl-fairy-tale/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #soccer #machidazelvia #gokuroda #asianchampionsleague #alahli
Machida Zelvia looking to complete fairy tale in Asian Champions League final

The club is led by a former high-school coach and plays at a homely tree-lined stadium in front of an average of 14,000 fans.

The Japan Times
UAE side Shabab Al Ahli on Wednesday formaly requested that its Asian Champions League semifinal against Machida Zelvia be replayed, claiming that its late equalizer should have stood. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/04/23/soccer/asian-champions-league-semifinal/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #soccer #machidazelvia #shababalahli #asianchampionsleague
Shabab Al Ahli calls for ACL semifinal loss against Machida Zelvia to be replayed

The Emirati side lost 1-0 in Jeddah on Tuesday

The Japan Times
Tournament debutant Machida Zelvia booked its place in the Asian ⁠Champions League Elite final with a 1-0 victory over Dubai-based Shabab Al-Ahli that ended in controversy in Jeddah on Tuesday. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2026/04/22/soccer/machida-acl-final/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #soccer #machidazelvia #visselkobe #asianchampionsleagueelite #alahli #shababalahli #paulosousa #yukisoma #yoshinorimuto #ivantoney #michaelskibbe #matthiasjaissle
Machida Zelvia advances to Asian Champions League final

Ahead of Machida's win, Vissel Kobe coach Michael Skibbe had questioned whether clubs from Japan could ⁠compete with their counterparts from cash-rich Gulf state leagues.

The Japan Times
FC Seoul's Jesse Lingard scored twice as the visitors secured a 3-1 win over Chinese Super League champion Shanghai Port on Tuesday to edge closer to a place in the Asian Champions League Elite knockout rounds. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/11/26/soccer/asian-champions-league-fc-seoul/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #soccer #sanfreccehiroshima #machidazelvia #fcseoul #asianchampionsleague
Lingard double helps FC Seoul win in Asian Champions League

In other action, Machida Zelvia earned a 3-1 win over Gangwon FC while Sanfrecce Hiroshima drew with Chengdu Rongcheng.

The Japan Times
Machida Zelvia's rapid ascent in Japanese soccer reached a new high point when the upstart club defeated Vissel Kobe in the Emperor’s Cup final to earn its first piece of major silverware. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2025/11/23/more-sports/machida-emperors-cup-victory/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #moresports #machidazelvia #gokuroda #visselkobe #emperorscup
All systems Go for upstart Machida Zelvia after landmark Emperor’s Cup triumph

It is the latest success for manager Go Kuroda, the former high school coach who has brought his golden touch to the professional game.

The Japan Times
Brutal for #MachidaZelvia — that’s never a penalty. But #SanfrecceHiroshima stay in the title race, theoretically anyway, and we will take it!