Kobe Victory ship, a dark horse in this year's AFC Champions League, won three and drew one of their four group games with a heroic 2-0 home win over FC Gwangju. Behind this, however, was the bright performance of one player, Daisuke Miyashiro, who scored four goals in the final three AFC Champions League matches to become the centerpiece of Victory's attack.
Miyashiro Daisuke's versatility makes him a rare talent for the team, and his positional adaptability leaves opponents defenseless. In this matchup with the Nakanishi Mariners, he is likely to show his prowess once again and tire out the opponent's defense.
Even if the opponents managed to restrict Daisho Miyashiro, Kobe Victory ship still has strong players such as Isamu Osako, Kaji Muto, and Daiki Sasaki, who are constantly pounding on the opponents' defense like waves, and are a threat no matter where they are.
Surprisingly, this year's AFC Elite did not perform well in the regular season and playoffs, scoring only one point in four rounds of group play. Behind this, perhaps, is the departure of a couple of former league champions who have left the team in a state of disrepair. Experience tells me that the departure of a team's core players often means a decline in performance.
However, the Mariners are still banking on Gouaux and Emundsen to surprise the team, both of whom have the ability to score goals. Gouaux's pace and threat are hard to ignore, while Mikhil Duka's impressive performance in the Asian Association Championship has led to expectations that he will play at a high level. With two goals already under his belt, the right side of the pitch is of particular interest.
Goals will flow like a tidal wave in this matchup, but in the end the victory may belong to Kobe Victory Ship. With the advantage of home field, Victory ship is expected to beat Nakanishi Marinos easily.
