An out-of-form Melbourne City have begun their Asian Champions League Elite campaign with a loss, extending Australian clubs' winless run in the continent's top-flight past 692 days.
The A-League premiers were unable to find their rhythm in the 2-0 loss to Japanese superpowers Sanfrecce Hiroshima on Tuesday night, as attacking midfielders Marcos Junior and Yotaro Nakajima scored the decisive goals.
The last time an A-League team won a match in Asia's top-flight competition was on October 25, 2023 when Melbourne defeated Thai superpowers Buriam United 2-0.
Last season, the Central Coast Mariners were only able to grab a point in the competition.
City went into the match having also not played a competitive game since July, while Hiroshima were into their 29th week of competition in the J-League.
It will be another 10 weeks until Melbourne play their first A-League Men's match.
City's new Japanese signing Takeshi Kanamori was unable to have a game defining presence, while Kosovo-international import Elbasan Rashani didn't take the field after coach Aurelio Vidmar wasn't happy with his fitness.
The A-League premiers are now also sweating on the fitness of Matthew Leckie, who had to be substituted after coming off second best in a first-half challenge.
Melbourne City were up against their former player of the year in Tolgay Arslan, who did get to run around against the hosts after his move to the Japanese club in 2024.
Hiroshima dominated from the outset, as City failed to seriously challenge the Japanese side's defensive line.
Marcos Junior was the first player to seriously question Melbourne's defence when he fired the ball metres from the goal 30 minutes in, but Patrick Beach's outstretched arm palmed it away.
From that moment, Hiroshima put their foot on the throttle with short and sharp passes to stretch City's defence.
Five minutes into the second half, Beach's hand clipped Marcos Junior's foot, sending him spiralling to the pitch.
Referee Payam Heydari pointed to the spot and Marcos Junior dispatched the ball into the top right corner for a 1-0 lead.
Nathaniel Atkinson had the best chance of the night for City in the 73rd minute when he received the ball inside the box, but his shot veered left of the post.
Hiroshima looked to inflict more scoreboard pain for City, asking questions of their defensive line and pressing high into their goal third.
And they capitalised on their momentum when Shuto Nakano lofted the ball and found the head of Yotaro Nakajima, who beat Beach to seal the game.
Western Sydney Wanderers are the only Australian club to win the top Asian club competition, topping Saudi Arabian giants Al Hilal in 2014.
