Football: Brisbane Upset Kashima To Keep ACL Hopes Alive

BRISBANE, Australia, , (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 12th Apr, 2017 ) - Australia's Brisbane Roar kept their Asian Champions League hopes flickering with a 2-1 win over Japanese champions Kashima Antlers in Brisbane on Wednesday.

Goals from striker Jamie Maclaren and midfielder Brett Holman gave Brisbane a 2-0 lead before Kashima pulled a goal back near the end. It was Brisbane's first win of the campaign and took their points tally to four, just two behind Group E leaders Kashima.

"That's a huge win for us," Roar's Danish midfielder Thomas Kristensen said. "I saw them on television not long ago playing against Real Madrid and they probably should have won that game, so we know it was a quality squad.

"But we also believe in our team and we have some good players, so we deserved to win.

" Maclaren lashed home with his left foot after a defensive error from Naomichi Ueda to put the Roar ahead after 18 minutes.

It was Brisbane's first goal in four ACL group games this season. Former Socceroo Holman doubled Brisbane's lead four minutes after the resumption, with an instinctive shot off a set-piece. Kashima pulled one back 11 minutes from the end when substitute Ryota Nagaki blasted home as the Roar defence failed to clear their lines.

It was only Brisbane's third win in 16 games in the AFC Champions League and it gave them renewed hope of qualifying for the knockout rounds if they can get a result at Muangthong United in Thailand in two weeks' time. Kashima face Ulsan Hyundai Motors in South Korea in their next match.