• Gotoku Sakai of Vissel Kobe celebrates after his teammate Andres Iniesta scored their team's third goal during the AFC Champions League Group G match against Guangzhou Evergrande at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar. EPA
    Gotoku Sakai of Vissel Kobe celebrates after his teammate Andres Iniesta scored their team's third goal during the AFC Champions League Group G match against Guangzhou Evergrande at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar. EPA
  • Vissel Kobe's Andres Iniesta celebrates scoring their third goal with teammates. Reuters
    Vissel Kobe's Andres Iniesta celebrates scoring their third goal with teammates. Reuters
  • Ryuho Kikuchi of Kobe in action against Evergrande. EPA
    Ryuho Kikuchi of Kobe in action against Evergrande. EPA
  • Players of Kobe celebrate. EPA
    Players of Kobe celebrate. EPA
  • Vissel Kobe's Douglas celebrates scoring their second goal with Andres Iniesta. Reuters
    Vissel Kobe's Douglas celebrates scoring their second goal with Andres Iniesta. Reuters
  • Douglas of Kobe celebrates after scoring against Guangzhou Evergrande. EPA
    Douglas of Kobe celebrates after scoring against Guangzhou Evergrande. EPA
  • Guangzhou's coach Fabio Cannavaro returns the ball. AFP
    Guangzhou's coach Fabio Cannavaro returns the ball. AFP
  • Kobe midfielder Andres Iniesta runs with the ball. AFP
    Kobe midfielder Andres Iniesta runs with the ball. AFP
  • Andres Iniesta is marked by Guangzhou forward Ricardo Goulart. AFP
    Andres Iniesta is marked by Guangzhou forward Ricardo Goulart. AFP
  • Kobe midfielder Andres Iniesta dribbles past Guangzhou defender Mei Fang. AFP
    Kobe midfielder Andres Iniesta dribbles past Guangzhou defender Mei Fang. AFP
  • Guangzhou Evergrande's Mei Fang scores a goal that was later disallowed. Reuters
    Guangzhou Evergrande's Mei Fang scores a goal that was later disallowed. Reuters
  • Andres Iniesta of Kobe celebrates with teammates after scoring. EPA
    Andres Iniesta of Kobe celebrates with teammates after scoring. EPA
  • Kobe forward Kyogo Furuhashi celebrates his goal against Guangzhou Evergrande. AFP
    Kobe forward Kyogo Furuhashi celebrates his goal against Guangzhou Evergrande. AFP
  • Vissel Kobe's Andres Iniesta, Thomas Vermaelen and teammates celebrate after the match. Reuters
    Vissel Kobe's Andres Iniesta, Thomas Vermaelen and teammates celebrate after the match. Reuters
  • Guangzhou Evergrande's Wei Shihao and teammates look dejected after the match. Reuters
    Guangzhou Evergrande's Wei Shihao and teammates look dejected after the match. Reuters
  • Kobe midfielder Andres Iniesta passes the ball. AFP
    Kobe midfielder Andres Iniesta passes the ball. AFP
  • Kobe'forward Noriaki Fujimoto is tackled by Guangzhou midfielder Yan Dinghao. AFP
    Kobe'forward Noriaki Fujimoto is tackled by Guangzhou midfielder Yan Dinghao. AFP
  • Kobe forward Kyogo Furuhashi celebrates his goal. AFP
    Kobe forward Kyogo Furuhashi celebrates his goal. AFP
  • Kobe midfielder Andres Iniesta celebrates his goal. AFP
    Kobe midfielder Andres Iniesta celebrates his goal. AFP
  • Kobe midfielder Andres Iniesta celebrates. AFP
    Kobe midfielder Andres Iniesta celebrates. AFP
  • Vissel Kobe's Andres Iniesta in action. Reuters
    Vissel Kobe's Andres Iniesta in action. Reuters

Football

Andres Iniesta goal helps send Japan's Vissel Kobe into AFC Champions League last 16 - in pictures

The Spain and Barcelona legend fired home in the 84th minute to help the Japanese side consolidate their position at the top of their group

The National

November 25, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

Andres Iniesta scored his first goal in the Asian Champions League as Vissel Kobe powered their way to the last-16 with a dominant 3-1 win over Fabio Cannavaro's Guangzhou Evergrande in their Group G clash on Wednesday.

The Spain and Barcelona legend fired home in the 84th minute to help the Japanese side consolidate their position at the top of their group with two wins from as many matches.

They are now five points ahead of Guangzhou and Suwon Samsung Bluewings and assured of a spot in the knockout phase after the group was reduced to three teams following Malaysian side Johor Darul Ta'zim's withdrawal from the tournament.

In another match on Wednesday, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors pipped Sydney FC 1-0 in Group H with Na Sung-eun scoring in the 44th minute.

It was the Australian side's third defeat in four matches while Jeonbuk revived their hopes with their first victory.

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