Soccer-The week in Asian football

Goals from Takaaki Shichi and Mutsuki Kato earned hosts Hiroshima the win and left Kobe stuck on 52 points with seven games left. Defending champions Yokohama F Marinos are a point behind in second place after Friday's 1-1 draw with Sagan Tosu.

Talking points from the week in Asian football:

VISSEL KOBE STAY TOP IN JAPAN DESPITE LOSS TO HIROSHIMA Vissel Kobe clung on to top spot in Japan on Saturday despite losing 2-0 to Sanfrecce Hiroshima. Goals from Takaaki Shichi and Mutsuki Kato earned hosts Hiroshima the win and left Kobe stuck on 52 points with seven games left.

Defending champions Yokohama F Marinos are a point behind in second place after Friday's 1-1 draw with Sagan Tosu. They needed a goal in the final minute from Kaina Yoshio to avoid defeat after Sagan's Yoichi Naganuma opened the scoring three minutes earlier. PORT BEAT CHANGCHUN TO EDGE CLOSER TO CHINESE LEAGUE TITLE

Shanghai Port moved a step closer to claiming the Chinese Super League title for the first time since 2018 with a 2-0 win over Changchun Yatai on Friday. Matias Vargas gave Port the lead in the 61st minute before Wei Zhen headed in Oscar's cross with 15 minutes left to give Port their first league win in four matches.

With five games left in the season, Port are nine points clear of Shandong Taishan, who beat Qingdao Hainiu 4-2. POHANG CLOSE TO WITHIN SIX POINTS OF LEADERS ULSAN IN KOREA

Pohang Steelers trimmed another two points off Ulsan Hyundai's lead on Saturday with a 2-0 win over Suwon FC and now trail the defending champions by six. Brazilian forward Zeca hit a first-half brace to secure the three points for Pohang, while Ulsan were held to a 1-1 draw by Daejeon Citizen.

Kim In-gyun gave Daejeon the lead in the second minute before Joo Min-gyu levelled from the penalty spot after half an hour. NEYMAR MAKES DEBUT AS LEADERS AL-HILAL THRASH AL-RIYADH

Neymar made his Saudi Pro League debut for Al-Hilal on Friday, coming off the bench for the final 26 minutes of his new club's 6-1 demolition of Al-Riyadh. The 31-year-old, who joined the Saudi side from Paris St Germain last month, replaced fellow Brazilian Michael and set up Malcom to score Al-Hilal's fourth in the 83rd minute.

Aleksandar Mitrovic, Yassir Al-Shahrani, Nasser Al-Dawsari and Salem Al-Dawsari (2) also scored for Al-Hilal, who lead Al-Ittihad by one point. The defending champions beat Al Akhdoud 1-0 on Thursday.

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