Chinese outfit Hangzhou Lucheng pulled off a surprise in their AFC Champions League opener with a 2-0 win over J-League champions Nagoya Grampus.
A goal from Argentinean striker Luis Ramirez on the hour mark and another from Bali Maimaitiyili just before full-time were enough to secure all three points for the Chinese side and send them top of Group F.
Two Australians featured in the match with Adam Griffiths starting for Hangzhou and Josh Kennedy playing a full game for Nagoya.
Chinese Super League runners-up Tianjin Teda got their campaign off to a great start with a 1-0 win over K-League side Jeju United.
Yu Dabao scored the decisive goal 10 minutes after half-time to seal the three points and send Teda equal top of Group E alongside Gamba Osaka, who thumped Melbourne Victory 5-1.
Draws were the order of the day in Group B, with Uzbekistan’s Pakhtakor being held to a 2-2 draw at home by Saudi Arabians Al Nasr.
Sherzod Karimov opened the scoring just before half-time at the Paxtakor Markaziy Stadion with a left-foot chip from outside the area, but Bader Al Mutwa levelled proceedings five minutes after the break.
Karimov scored his second to restore the Uzbek’s advantage, but Saad Al Harthi bobbed up in the 89th minute to snatch a late equaliser for the visitors.
Group B’s other match saw Iranians Esteghlal play out a 1-1 draw with Qatar Al Saad, after Brazilian striker Leandro scored an 87th-minute goal to cancel out Farhad Majidi’s opener.
In Group A, the United Arab Emirates’ Al Jazira played out a goalless draw with Qatar champions Al Gharafa.
