To add quotes from Coach Machida

April 18 (Reuters Sports Service) - Al-Ittihad coach Sergio Conceicao expressed his frustration at his team's inability to break down Japan's Machida Zelvia's defense, as they were knocked out of the AFC Champions League elite group stage with a 1-0 home defeat in the quarter-finals in Jeddah on Friday.

Al-Ittihad lost to a goal by Australian Tete Yenge in the 31st minute, allowing the Japanese team to advance to the semi-finals and set up a meeting with the winner of the match between Buriram United of Thailand and Shabab Al-Ahli of the UAE, while Al-Ittihad's hopes of achieving its third continental title evaporated .

"We had to find solutions," the Portuguese coach said in a press conference after the match. "We tried to control the midfield, especially in the first half, during which our goal was not threatened, and that's why we didn't make any changes then."

Conceição explained that the late changes gave the team greater attacking effectiveness, stating, "We made some changes and the performance improved. We became more dangerous and created more chances on goal. I think everyone saw that the changes were good and we were able to create more chances in the second half."

"Our players scored a goal and I thought it was valid. We created many chances, we were the better side and controlled the game, but in the end it was the referee's decision. Everything went well, but we didn't succeed."

Substitute Steven Bergwijn shot from outside the penalty area, but it went just over the goal.

For his part, Japanese coach Go Kuroda of Machida Zelvia attributed his team's historic qualification for the semi-finals for the first time to the cohesion and unity of the team members.

Kuroda said, "This was our first stop and it was a very big one. It was a very difficult match, but I am very happy that all the players were united and kept a clean sheet."

The Japanese coach revealed that the winning goal came as a result of a well-thought-out tactic involving a long throw-in, explaining, "The long throw-in was planned beforehand. It's not common to see it often in world football, and it may have been a surprise to the opponent, but it had an effect because it gave us a goal."

Kuroda added that his team reaped the rewards of their daily training, explaining, "We delivered a performance that reflected the fruit of our daily work. We knew we wouldn't get many opportunities, so we took advantage of ours and kept a clean sheet."

"In football there is a winner and a loser. This time we won, but sometimes we lose too. I think we were lucky to win."

Yingi scored his third goal in the AFC Champions League Elite since joining Machida on a five-month loan from Scottish side Livingston last January.