Tokyo Verdy had an Asian Champions League debut to forget on Wednesday, losing 2-0 to K. League champion Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i.
Ulsan broke the deadlock in the Group F match at National Stadium on 57 minutes with a goal from ex-Kashiwa Reysol forward Choi Sung Kuk. Masayuki Yanagisawa's woeful attempt at a chested back pass fell short and the 23-year-old Choi stole in and clipped the ball over advancing 'keeper Hiroki Mizuhara.
Brazilian striker Machado, top scorer in the K. League last season, put the game beyond J2's Verdy on 71 minutes when he collected the ball just inside the area and crashed a wonderful shot into the roof of the net.