Hayato Araki broke Eastern SC’s hearts with a dramatic header deep into stoppage time, securing a 3-2 win for Sanfrecce Hiroshima over the Hong Kong Premier League side in Group E of the 2024/25 AFC Champions League Two at Mong Kok Stadium on Thursday.
Araki’s header in the sixth minute of added time sealed the victory for the J.League 1 title contenders, just as Noah Baffoe’s goal early in the second half had appeared to give Roberto Losada’s Eastern team a share of the points. Daniel Almazan had given Eastern the lead with a header in the seventh minute, but Sanfrecce quickly responded with goals from Hiroya Matsumoto and Yotaro Nakajima in the 40th and 41st minutes. Baffoe then equalized 30 seconds into the second half, setting up a tense conclusion.
The result leaves Sanfrecce and Sydney FC sharing the top spot in the group, while Eastern and Kaya FC-Iloilo remain without points – with Sydney beating Kaya 4-1 at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila on the same day.
Eastern came into the match looking to rebound from their 5-0 loss to Sydney in the first round. They started brightly, with Ma Hei Wai creating an early chance down the right. In the sixth minute, a corner from Jesse Yu Joy Yin found Almazan at the far post, and the Spaniard’s header put Eastern ahead.
Sanfrecce responded before the break, with Matsumoto leveling the score in the 40th minute after being given too much space to unleash a long-range strike. A minute later, Nakajima capitalized on a defensive error to head Sanfrecce into the lead.
Eastern refused to back down, and Baffoe equalized just seconds into the second half with a clinical left-footed shot after being set up by Almazan. The game appeared destined for a draw until Araki’s last-gasp header from Naoto Arai’s corner clinched the victory for Sanfrecce.