JIDDAH, Saudi Arabia (April 21, 2026) (Interstat) — Machida Zelvia opened its AFC Champions League campaign with a narrow 1-0 victory over Shabab Al Ahli on Tuesday at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium. The lone goal came in the 12th minute when forward Yūki Sōma finished a play assisted by Federico Cartabia. Sōma was later shown a yellow card in stoppage time.

The match, which defied a pregame statistical projection of a draw, featured six total yellow cards. Shabab Al Ahli substitute Hamad Al Meqbaali received a yellow card and was subsequently sent off with a red card in the 14th minute of added time. The result gave Machida a winning start in the continental competition while Shabab Al Ahli began with a loss.