Japanese champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima players performed a touching goal celebration in Tuesday night's Asian Champions League loss to Central Coast Mariners.
Sanfrecce midfielder Yojiro Takahagi lost his grandmother in the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011 prompting the 11.3 gesture from his teammates when they scored the opening goal at the Central Coast Stadium on Matchday 2 of Asia's premier club competition.
After Tsukasa Shiotani struck for the J.League club in the 21st minute, Hiroshima players situated themselves to produce the number 3 as well as a number 11 - to mark the date - with Takahagi standing solemnly in front of his united colleagues.
It was a touching moment from the Sanfrecce players who eventually went on to lose 2-1 after Mile Sterjovski netted a double for the Mariners.
Fox Sports Football posted the following on Twitter:
Hiroshima No.10 Takahagi lost his grandmother in the 2011 earthquake and tsunami that struck off Tohoku on 11 March. pic.twitter.com/h4sbECaBXc
— FOX SPORTS Football (@FOXFootballLive) March 11, 2014
