Kashima beat Pohang 3-0 as Gamba are held by Buriram in ACL Elite
Kashima Antlers made it three wins from three in the AFC Champions League Elite East. Takashi Usami's free kick earned Gamba Osaka a 1-1 draw with Buriram United.
By TuSport Desk · 28 Oct 2026, 13:05 WAT
Kashima Antlers beat Pohang Steelers 3-0 at Kashima Soccer Stadium on Wednesday 28 October in matchday 3 of the AFC Champions League Elite East region. Both East games kicked off at 19:00 Japan time (11:00 WAT), the official J.League site lists.
Ryuta Koike, who came on in the ninth minute for the injured Rikuto Hirose, opened the scoring in the 59th minute, according to the J.League match page. ESPN's match data shows Matheus Bueno set him up with a through ball, and the goal stood after a VAR review.
Aleksandar Cavric made it 2-0 in the 75th minute. Bueno then added the third late on, finishing from close range after a corner, with the goal awarded after another VAR check. The J.League lists the goal in the 88th minute.
Kashima had 71% of the ball and 15 shots to Pohang's four, and the Korean side did not register a shot on target, ESPN's statistics show. The J.League preview noted Kashima had opened with a 7-1 home win over Newcastle Jets and a 1-0 victory away to Cong An Ha Noi.
At Suita City Football Stadium, Buriram United took a 39th-minute lead through Eduardo Mancha, who scored from close range after a set piece. ESPN reports the goal was confirmed after a VAR review.
Gamba Osaka made a triple change in the 57th minute, bringing on Takashi Usami, Issam Jebali and Rin Mito. Usami levelled in the 66th minute with a free kick into the top corner, the J.League and ESPN report.
Gamba dominated the ball with 68% possession and had 25 shots, seven on target, against Buriram's ten, ESPN's data shows, but could not find a winner.
After three matchdays, Kashima and Vissel Kobe both have nine points in the East table on ESPN's standings. Gamba have seven, level with Johor Darul Ta'zim and Beijing Guoan. Buriram have two points and Pohang are still without a point.
Sources: www.jleague.jp · www.espn.com · www.jleague.jp · www.espn.com · www.the-afc.com
