Western Sydney Wanderers have defied all expectations and opened its Asian Champions League defence with a 3-1 victory over Japanese giants Kashima Antlers.
The Wanderers entered the match against the J-League’s most successful club a shadow of the side that conquered Asia to create Australian sporting history just three months ago.
With their A-League season in tatters having triumphed just once in their last 16 outings to sit last on the ladder, Tony Popovic’s men showed amazing character to put their domestic malaise behind them at Kashima Stadium to post their first victory in Japan.
Greek Australian goalkeeper for the team, Dean Bouzianis, got his second appearance for the club and worked his magic helping save a couple of near goals.
Man of the night was Mark Bridge who managed to bring two goals to the side, while Yojiro Takahagi got the third.
Sadly for Brisbane Roar, their AFC Champions League campaign had a disastrous start after an injury-time stunner consigned them to a 1-0 loss to Beijing Guoan.
The Roar were left shell-shocked when a long-range free-kick from Beijing substitute Chen Zhizhao deflected off the head of new striker Andrija Kaluderovic and flew into the back of the net, two minutes into added time.
It was a cruel ending to a night that should have ended in glory for the Roar, but their failure to take advantage of a 10-man Beijing Guoan came back to bite them.
The defeat means Brisbane face an uphill battle to qualify from a strong Group G, which also features Japanese powerhouse Urawa Red Diamonds and Korea’s Suwon Bluewings.
