The first round of the 2018 AFC Champions League Group Stage concluded on Wednesday night with both Japanese teams in action taking points from their respective matches.
 
Kashima Antlers fell behind just three minutes into their home match against Shanghai Shenhua when Colombia international Giovanni Moreno scored the opening goal. 

But last year’s J1 League runners-up fought back, finding an equaliser through Yasushi Endo in the 51st minute and continuing to create chances through the final whistle of what ended in a 1-1 draw.
 
Cerezo Osaka played away at Jeju United in a back-and-forth match that saw neither team able to score in front of a crowd just short of 4,000 fans. 

The 0-0 draw continued until the 93rd minute, when Kota Mizunuma’s priceless goal gave Cerezo the first victory by a J.League team in the group stage.
 
The second round will take place next week: Kawasaki Frontale and Kashima Antlers will travel to Korea to face Ulsan Hyundai and Suwon Bluewings respectively, while Kashiwa Reysol and Cerezo Osaka will host CSL clubs Tianjin Quanjian and Guangzhou Evergrande.