AFC Champions League wrap: Cerezo, Seoul in first-up wins

Cerezo Osaka kicked off their AFC Champions League campaign in style with a 2-1 victory over Arema in Japan on Wednesday.

The hosts took the lead in the 14th minute at Kincho Stadium when Cerezo debutant and Brazilian import Rodrigo Pimpao found the back of the net in the Group G affair.

Singaporean striker Noh Alam Shah equalised for the Indonesian club five minutes after the break from the penalty spot, but Pimpao capped a dream start in his first competitive club game off Brazilian soil with a winning goal in the 76th minute.

The other clash in Group G saw South Korean club Jeonbuk Motors defeat Shandong Luneng 1-0 after Won-Jae Park netted the winner in the 59th minute for the hosts at Jeonju World Cup Stadium.

Ten-man Sydney FC and Suwon Bluewings played out a hard-fought scoreless draw in their opening Group H match at the Sydney Football Stadium.

The Australian side were forced to play a man short for nearly an hour after captain Terry McFlynn was dismissed for stomping on Lee Sangho.

Suwon fielded their quartet of new signings in defender Hwang Jae-Won, midfielder Lee Yong-Rae, striker Yeom Ki-Hoon and South Korea South Africa 2010 goalkeeper Jung Sung-Ryong.

Chinese Super League outfit Shanghai Shenhua were held to a scoreless draw by J-League club Kashima Antlers at Hongkou Stadium in Group H.

Iranian Premier League leaders Zob Ahan came from behind to topple Emirates 2-1 in their Group D match.

K-League club Seoul’s trip to United Arab Emirates side Al Ain proved a fruitful one, with Dejan Damjanovic’s strike enough for the Koreans to secure a 1-0 victory in Group F.

Fifth-placed Qatar Stars League side Al Rayyan were held to a 1-1 draw by Saudi Arabian club Al Shabab in their Group D encounter.

UAE outfit Al Wahda exchanged late goals with their Uzbekistani opponents Bunyodkor in their 1-1 stalemate at Al-Nahyan Stadium in Group C.