KOBE, Japan (Interstat) — Jean Patric scored in the 58th minute to lift Vissel Kobe to a 1-0 victory over South Korea’s Ulsan in an AFC Champions League match Wednesday at NOEVIR Stadium Kobe. The decisive goal, assisted by substitute Back Inwoo, gave the Japanese side a win in its tournament opener. Defender Matheus Thuler also recorded an assist on the play. Ulsan failed to find an equalizer, suffering a defeat in its first match of the group stage. The result defied a pregame projection that forecast a draw, though statistical models heavily favored the home side.