"Concise play is our weapon"… 14th-ranked Pohang in ACL Elite visit 2-game winning Kashima
Pohang, on 0 points, travel to 2-game winning Kashima today at 19:00. Nishiya Kento has reportedly said that the 'concise play characteristic of the K League' could become a weapon.
Translated from Korean with AI assistance. Read the original. Sources and original publication dates are retained.
Three-line summary
- Pohang are 14th in the ACL Elite East, with 0 points from 2 matches and a record of 1 goal scored and 5 conceded.
- Kashima won both of the same 2 matches to sit 4th with 6 points. The gap between the two teams is exactly 6 points.
- Win bonuses in this competition are listed at $100,000 per win, and the winner's prize at $10 million.
"I think the concise play characteristic of the K League could actually become our weapon." Pohang midfielder Nishiya Kento (26) said this ahead of the Kashima away match, as reported byMHN. The opponent is Kashima, who opened the season on a 2-game winning streak. The key question is simple: will that conciseness work even against a team on a 2-game winning run?
Pohang vs. Kashima fixture: October 28, 19:00, away
The match will be held at Kashima Soccer Stadium on October 28, 2026. The kickoff time shown on the J.League official match center is 19:00 Korea and Japan time. It is an away game for Pohang, but a familiar place for Kento. In the 2024 season, when he was at Sagan Tosu, he made his J1 debut at this very stadium.
Kento is a Japanese left-footed midfielder born November 7, 1999, who serves as a set-piece taker. He recorded 2 goals in 35 J2 matches for Fujieda MYFC. At Sagan Tosu, he recorded 2 goals and 2 assists in 35 J2 matches in 2025. According to Sagan Tosu's announcement, his loan to Pohang runs until December 31, so 64 days remain as of today.
ACL Elite standings: Pohang 14th, Kashima 4th, 6-point gap
J.League official standings show Pohang in 14th place in the East after 2 matches, with 0 points (as of October 27, 2026, 23:00). Kashima have 6 points from the same 2 matches and sit 4th. The J.League's October 26 preview listed Kashima at the top. As other teams played more matches, they dropped to 4th in the updated standings.
| Rank | Team | Points | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vissel Kobe | 9 | 3 |
| 2 | Johor Darul Ta'zim | 7 | 3 |
| 3 | Beijing FC | 7 | 3 |
| 4 | Kashima Antlers | 6 | 2 |
| 5 | Gamba Osaka | 6 | 2 |
| 8 | Shanghai Haigang | 4 | 3 |
| 13 | Ratchaburi FC | 1 | 3 |
| 14 | Pohang Steelers | 0 | 2 |
| 15 | Port FC | 0 | 3 |
Pohang have scored 1 goal and conceded 5 in 2 matches. They lost 0-2 at home to Johor Darul Ta'zim on October 13, according toAFC reported. The Beijing FC match is listed as 1-2 by Sports Mole, but the J.League official preview shows 1-3. Adding the official records of the two matches gives exactly 1 goal scored and 5 conceded.
Kento's 'concise play' issue and the backgrounds of both coaches
According to MHN, Kento said that Pohang could get good results by responding to the fast tempo and making use of their concise play. However, this is the player's personal view on how to approach this opponent.
Kashima manager Oniki Toru (52) has won the J1 championship 5 times, the most J1 titles ever won by a manager. Pohang manager Park Tae-ha (58) is the first head coach in club history who was a one-club man. He won the 2024 Korea Cup in his first season in charge and has renewed his contract through 2028.
ACL Elite prize money: $100,000 per win, $10 million for the title
| Item | Amount (US dollars) |
|---|---|
| League stage participation fee | 800,000 |
| League stage win bonus | 100,000 per win |
| Additional payment for reaching the round of 16 | 200,000 |
| Winner's prize | 10,000,000 |
Australian A-League official notice, applying the prize structure in it, I calculated that Kashima, with 2 wins, have accrued win bonuses of $200,000 so far, while Pohang still have $0. However, this amount is only the figure the league announced as a guideline. The actual amounts clubs receive or their net earnings may differ.
Kento's remarks are confirmed only through the MHN report; I have not been able to secure the original press conference transcript or the exact date of the remarks. Once the match ends, the results and standings should be checked again. Pohang seek their first win of the competition tonight at 19:00, trailing Kashima by 6 points.
Frequently asked questions
Q. What time is the Pohang vs. Kashima match?
According to the J.League official match center, kickoff is at 19:00 Korea and Japan time on October 28, 2026. The venue is Kashima Soccer Stadium.
Q. How old is Nishiya Kento?
Born November 7, 1999, he is 26 years old as of October 28, 2026. He belongs to Sagan Tosu and is on loan at Pohang until December 31, 2026.
Q. How much is the ACL Elite prize money?
According to the Australian A-League official notice, the league stage participation fee is $800,000, and the win bonus is $100,000 per win. Reaching the round of 16 brings an additional $200,000, and the winner's prize is $10 million.
Related official sites
- Pohang Steelers official website — check club announcements and match schedule
- Kashima Antlers official website — opponent news and squad information
- J.League official ACL Elite standings — East standings updated after matches
- J.League official Kashima–Pohang match center — kickoff information and match records
Cover image · Archive photo · This is not an on-site photo of the match covered in this article · Photo: Wikimedia Commons (TAKA@P.P.R.S), CC BY-SA 2.0
Related reading
· Suwon FC, with a 14-match unbeaten run, travel to Seongnam: K League 2 Round 29, 2 p.m. kickoff
Wessaker Editor · View profile and more articles