AFC Champions League League Phase East - 8
Machida Zelvia 3 - 2 FT Chengdu Better City
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
7' T. Yengi (K. Hayashi)
Yang Ming-Yang 10'
25' R. Shirasaki (F. Tokumura)
Wei Shihao 32'
HT
55' T. Yengi (K. Kuwayama)
↓ H. Hu ↑Gan Chao 61'
62' ↓ H. Mochizuki ↑Y. Nakayama
67' D. Okamura
72' ↓ T. Yengi ↑S. Fujio
72' ↓ K. Kuwayama ↑T. Nishimura
↓ Liao Lisheng ↑Liao Rongxiang 81'
↓ Yang Ming-Yang ↑M. Yimingkari 81'
87' ↓ H. Shimoda ↑H. Mae
87' ↓ K. Hayashi ↑Y. Soma
Felipe Silva (Liao Rongxiang) 90'
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Machida Zelvia
Goalkeepers
Tatsuya Morita 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Henry Heroki Mochizuki 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
71%
Duel Win %
Daihachi Okamura 
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Ibrahim Drešević 
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
50%
Pass Acc
Midfielders
Asahi Masuyama
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ryohei Shirasaki 
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Hokuto Shimoda 
MAGNET
76
Activity
76
Activity
74
Passes
2
Duels
Kotaro Hayashi 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
3
Key Passes
6.9
Rating
Forwards
Kanji Kuwayama
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
2
Key Passes
8.3
Rating
Futa Tokumura 
DRIBBLER
6
Dribbles
6
Dribbles
7
Attempts
86%
Success %
Tete Yengi 
HITMAN
2
Goals
2
Goals
4
On Target
8.9
Rating
BENCH
Kosei Tani 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Yoshiaki Arai
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Yuta Nakayama
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
28
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Hotaka Nakamura
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Chui Mayaka
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Hiroyuki Mae
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
3
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Neta Lavi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Takaya Numata
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Takuma Nishimura
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
18
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yuki Soma
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
4
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Shota Fujio
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
18
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Sang-Ho Na
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Chengdu Better City
Goalkeepers
Dianzuo Liu
MAGNET
52
Activity
52
Activity
50
Passes
2
Duels
Defenders
Dongsheng Wang
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Pengfei Han
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yang Li
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
62%
Duel Win %
Hetao Hu
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
60
Total Mins
61
Entry
Midfielders
Ming Yang Yang
LATE SHIFT
9
Late Mins
9
Late Mins
81
Total Mins
81
Entry
Lisheng Liao
LATE SHIFT
9
Late Mins
9
Late Mins
81
Total Mins
81
Entry
Wellington Silva
STORMTROOPER
2
Shots
2
Shots
0
Goals
1
On Target
Rômulo
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Shihao Wei
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
Forwards
Felipe Silva 
CLUTCH HERO
90
Goal Time
90
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
8.2
Rating
BENCH
Weifeng Ran
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Yueheng Wang
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Yanfeng Dong
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mincheng Yuan
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Chao Gan
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
30
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Liao Rongxiang 
SUPER SUB
1
Assist
1
Assist
9
Minutes
6.6
Rating
Iminqari Mutallep
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
9
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ezimet Qeyser
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Li Moyu
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ziming Wang
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
League Standings
P: 8 GD: +8
P: 8 GD: +7
P: 8 GD: +4
P: 8 GD: +2
P: 7 GD: +2
P: 8 GD: +1
P: 8 GD: +1
P: 7 GD: -2
P: 7 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -4
P: 8 GD: -8
League Standings
P: 8 GD: +8
P: 8 GD: +7
P: 8 GD: +4
P: 8 GD: +2
P: 8 GD: +2
P: 8 GD: +1
P: 8 GD: +1
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -2
P: 8 GD: -4
P: 8 GD: -8
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Yengi Double Decides Five-Goal Continental Clash
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 64/100. A high-octane encounter where Machida’s clinical finishing outweighed Chengdu’s late-game persistence in a vital continental showdown.
The Opening Act
Machida Zelvia wasted no time asserting authority at Machida GION Stadium. The Intensity was palpable from the first whistle as the hosts forced the issue through high-pressing lines. It took only seven minutes for the deadlock to break when T. Yengi latched onto a sharp delivery from K. Hayashi to fire home. Machida continued to turn the pitch into a shooting gallery, attempting 19 shots throughout the match. The pressure told again in the 25th minute; R. Shirasaki doubled the advantage following clever work from F. Tokumura. While the Balance of play heavily favored the Japanese side, Wei Shihao snatched a lifeline for the visitors against the run of play, keeping the contest alive before the break.
The Pivot
The match swung definitively ten minutes into the second period. As Chengdu Better City attempted to push higher, they left gaps that Machida exploited with surgical precision. K. Kuwayama turned creator, delivering a pinpoint ball that allowed T. Yengi to secure his brace. This moment fundamentally shifted the Stakes, providing Machida with a two-goal cushion that their dominance deserved. With 53% possession, the hosts controlled the rhythm of the game, limiting Chengdu’s opportunities to sporadic breaks. Yengi’s second goal was a masterclass in positioning, punishing a tiring Chinese defense and ensuring that Machida remained in the driver’s seat despite the narrow scoreline that would eventually develop in the final minutes.
The Resolution
The closing stages brought unexpected drama to Machida GION Stadium. Chengdu’s bench made an impact when Liao Rongxiang entered the fray, injecting fresh energy into a stagnant attack. In the 90th minute, Felipe Silva rose highest to meet a Liao cross, setting up a frantic period of stoppage time. Despite the 3-2 scoreline suggesting a close finish, Machida’s overall control reflected the Importance of their tactical discipline. The Japanese side held firm to secure three points, extending their strong run of form. For Chengdu, a fourth loss in recent outings highlights their defensive frailties, while Machida’s firepower continues to make them a formidable force in this year’s competition after surviving the late scare.
Key Questions
What made Tete Yengi the Man of the Match?
Yengi’s clinical brace and constant threat in the box were decisive, turning Machida’s 19 shots into the goals needed for victory.
What caused the 5-goal thriller?
Machida’s aggressive attacking siege and Chengdu’s late resilience produced a high-shot volume encounter with action at both ends until the final whistle.
How did substitute Tete Yengi change the game?
Yengi actually started the match, but his second-half goal was the game-changer, providing the essential cushion to withstand Chengdu’s late comeback attempt.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Machida Zelvia vs Chengdu Better City: High Stakes in East Asia
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 77/100. Machida Zelvia can virtually guarantee a direct ticket to the round of 16 with a victory, while Chengdu Better City is fighting to remain above the playoff cutoff line.
The Setup
The calculation is simple at Machida Zelvia: win and breathe easy. Sitting in second place with 14 points, the hosts have displayed a Form rating that reflects their clinical nature in front of goal. On February 17, 2026, they welcome a Chengdu Better City side that has struggled for consistency throughout this league phase. The visitors currently occupy 10th place, leaving them squarely in the playoff bracket but far from the safety of the top eight. With a Stakes score of 8.4, the pressure is mounting for both to secure their continental future.
Key Battle
The decisive clash will likely occur on the flanks. Y. Soma has been the creative engine for the home side, consistently providing the service that tests opposition backlines. He will be shadowed by Y. Gurfinkel, whose defensive discipline will be the primary barrier against Machida’s wide attacks. If Chengdu cannot neutralise the Japanese side's transition play, the Balance of the match will tilt heavily toward the hosts early on at Machida GION Stadium.
Our Prediction
Machida Zelvia’s superior organization and recent run of results make them heavy favorites. Expect the home side to control possession and utilize the shot-stopping ability of K. Tani to stifle any rare Chengdu counters led by Rômulo. We anticipate a controlled 2-0 victory for Machida, sealing their status as one of the East’s elite performers this season.