ASIA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Western Sydney Wanderers’ nightmare start with ACL hammering

Western Sydney Wanderers have kicked off their AFC Champions League campaign with a disappointing 4-0 loss to Japanese outfit Urawa Reds in Campbelltown on Tuesday night.

Urawa stunned the hosts with two quick-fire goals early in the second stanza before netting twice in the final 20 minutes to cap a dominant performance.

  

Urawa started brightly in the opening stanza and laid siege to the Wanderers goal with striker Yuri Muto and Shinzo Koroki forcing keeper Vedran Janjetovic into smart saves in the opening half hour.

Western Sydney settled into the contest and enjoyed sustained periods of possession with Argentine Nico Martinez and debutant Abraham Majok looking lively.

But it was the visitors who blew the game open after the break, with two goals in as many minutes to Shinzo Koroki and Tadanari Lee putting Urawa in control.

The Reds continued to dictate proceedings and were rewarded for their dominance with Tomoaki Makino and substitute Rafael Silva both netting as Urawa sealed a huge first-up victory. 

GOALS 0-1: Urawa Reds, Shinzo Koroki, 56 Tadanari Lee surged through the heart of the Wanderers defence before sliding Koroki in behind, with the attacker coolly firing home with the outside of his foot. 

0-2: Urawa Reds, Tadanari Lee, 58’ Urawa pounced on a sloppy turnover inside the Wanderers box with Koroki flicking the ball into the path of Lee with the striker showing great touch to fire home past Vedran Janjetovic.

0-3: Urawa Reds, Tomoaki Makino, 68’ The Wanderers failed to deal with a Urawa corner with the ball falling kindly to Makino who made no mistake from six yards.

 0-4: Urawa Reds, Rafael Silva, 86’ The substitute was released down the right flank with the Brazilian standing up Brendan Hamill before firing a powerful strike past Janjetovic 99

2:54 AM