“Winning is only half the job done. We still need to reflect on why we lost focus in the second half and fix those psychological lapses,” said Kim. “Vissel Kobe are the strongest team in East Asia, so I’m happy we managed to win.

“We need to carry this momentum into the K League, but if we keep playing Gangwon’s brand of football on the Asian stage and keep building results, I believe we have the strength to reach the knockout rounds.”

Gangwon head coach Chung Kyung‑ho praised his team’s explosive start but drew caution from their lapse in focus in the second half.

“We played a perfect first half against the best team in Japan. But the second half remains my homework as a coach,” said Chung . “Whether it was against Anyang, Daegu, or now Vissel Kobe, our concentration tends to drop in the later stages - I’ll work with the players to fix that.

“Against Japan’s top team, we showed great pressing, positioning, passing and determination. Now we need to maintain that level throughout the full 90 minutes.”

For Vissel Kobe head coach Takayuki Yoshida, the match offered lessons following the heartbreaking defeat.

“Players who didn’t play much in the league came forward,” said Yoshida. “Apart from the main and non-main games, we tried to plant a clear tactic in all players. If I did well today, I was thinking of using it in the league. The ACLE schedule is tight, but it’s an excuse. I will show you further developments next time.”

Gangwon will look to maintain their momentum when they face Sanfrecce Hiroshima of Japan on Matchday Four, while Kobe take on table toppers Ulsan HD.