SEOUL (Interstat) — Vissel Kobe earned a 1-0 away victory over Seoul in AFC Champions League play Wednesday at Seoul World Cup Stadium, defying a pre-match projection of a draw.

The lone goal came in the 23rd minute when substitute Matheus Thuler scored on a header. The assist was credited to Katsuya Nagato, one of four Vissel Kobe players, along with Yūta Goke, Hrvoje Babec and Daiju Sasaki, to record an assist on the play. Patryk Klimala was also credited with an assist.

The match was physical, featuring six yellow cards. Klimala, Nagato, Babec, Goke and Sasaki were all cautioned for Vissel Kobe.

The result gave Vissel Kobe a winning start to its continental campaign, while Seoul began with a loss. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 1-1 draw, and its ELO system gave Vissel Kobe a 58.1% probability to win.