J. League champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima are in danger of first-round elimination in the Asian Champions League after suffering their third consecutive defeat in a 1-0 loss to South Korea's Pohang Steelers on Tuesday.
Bae Chun Suk scored the only goal midway through the opening half for Pohang, who secured their first victory in Group G and will host Hiroshima in their next match on April 10.
The J. League's reigning MVP and top scorer Hisato Sato lamented the result as well as the performance of Sanfrecce, who also went out in the group phase in their only other Champions League appearance in 2010.