Football history was made at Hong Kong Stadium on Wednesday night in the most dramatic fashion. Deadlocked in a goalless stalemate, Kitchee had failed to break down a Kashiwa side that had been reduced to 10 men since the 15th minute.

Indeed, the Japanese side had gone close to scoring through Brazilian duo Ramon Lopes and Cristiano, while Kitchee's best chances had often come from distance. But there was to be a moment of magic that turned the tie on its head, and write a new chapter for Hong Kong football.

Having only narrowly lost the first meeting 1-0 in Japan, the Hong Kong side would have been hopeful of picking up their first-ever points and began brightly in front of their home support.

And inside the opening quarter hour, Kitchee’s chances were boosted as Kashiwa went down to 10 men after Masashi Kamekawa was sent off for bringing down Alex Akande on the edge of the area.

Uruguay star Diego Forlan, however, blazed the resulting free-kick high over Kazushige Kirihata’s crossbar.

The former Atletico Madrid man went closer after the half hour with a shot from distance that whistled narrowly by, before Fernando was denied at close range by Kirihata.

Despite Kitchee enjoying the numerical advantage, Kashiwa were a threat on the counter and with seven minutes of the half remaining Yusuke Segawa should have opened the scoring after a surging run into the area, only to screw his shot wide.

The deadlock persisted in the second half, despite forwards for each side, Jordi Tarres and Cristiano, entering the fray after the interval.

Kashiwa’s Ramon Lopes did see an effort cleared off the line, before a well worked team move at the other end saw Krisztian Vadocz force a smart save from Kirihata.

But there was still drama to come in stoppage time.

Having only been brought off the bench with 10 minutes remaining, winger Cheng Chin Lung found himself just inside the area to the right of goal, before curling a stunning strike into the opposite corner to rapturous scenes in the stands of Hong Kong Stadium.

Kitchee now move onto three points and will next host Tianjin Quanjian at Mong Kok Stadium on April 4, while Kashiwa, a point ahead of Kitchee in third, entertain Group E leaders Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.

Played at the Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium, the home side started brightly and took the lead inside 10 minutes when Wang Yongpo finished off some nice lead up work from Pato and Modeste.

Modeste should have doubled the lead on 35 minutes when Axel Witsel headed back across goal to the Frenchman, who somehow headed wide from two yards out with an open net in front of him.

Tianjin were left to rue that miss just two minutes later when Kim Shin-wook, who scored a hat-trick against them last week, found the net again to draw the visitors level.

Brazilian star Pato produced a piece of brilliance eight minutes into the second half, combining exquisitely with Witsel before driving into the area and firing a shot that rattled the crossbar.

The home side wouldn’t have to wait long to take the lead, however, with Zhang Cheng’s header in the 55th minute putting them ahead 2-1.

But Jeonbuk rallied once again and equalised with just over 20 minutes to go when Tianjin failed to clear their lines and Adriano bundled the ball home after a slight deflection off Zheng Cheng.

After spurning earlier chances, Modeste finally got the goal he was after in the 84th minute. The Frenchman got on the end of Zhao Xuri’s ball over the top of the Jeonbuk defence, beating Song Beom-keun to the ball and chipping the keeper to put his side 3-2 ahead, before Pato sealed the win and all three points with a goal in injury time.

The win keeps Tianjin Quanjian in second spot in Group E, now just two points behind Jeonbuk Hyundai who remain in top spot, but importantly they now sit three points clear of third-placed Kashiwa Reysol.

 

Buriram took the lead in just the 11th minute at Osaka Nagai Stadium, as Yang Dong-hyun flicked Rattanakorn Maikami’s corner from the left beyond his own keeper Kim Jin-hyeon at the near post.

Yang atoned for that error in the 65th minute, converting a powerful header from a Yusuke Maruhashi cross deep on the left, but Buriram re-established their lead from another Maikami corner just six minutes later, Diogo this time heading home at the far post.

Kenyu Sugimoto ensured the spoils would be shared in the 88th minute, however, adding a towering header of his own after a Hotaru Yamaguchi cross.

The draw leaves Buriram second in the group on five points, three behind leaders Guangzhou Evergrande, while Cerezo also have five points but sit third on goal difference with two games left to play.

Next up on April 3, Cerezo welcome Korea Republic’s Jeju United to Osaka while Buriram play host to two-time champions Guangzhou.

 

Unquestionably one of the most prolific players to participate in the AFC Champions League since the tournament revamp in 2002-2003, made more history on March 13 when Suwon Samsung Bluewings forward Damjanovic fired in his third goal of the 2018 campaign.

Not only did the strike end the deadlock with China's Shanghai Shenhua and pave the way to a 2-0 win that keeps the Koreans firmly on track for a place in the Round of 16, but it was the 36-year-old's 30th goal in the AFC Champions League, leaving him out alone in second place on the all-time scorers list.

The-AFC.com caught up with the former Montenegro international to reflect on his achievements so far.

As ever in Tehran, the competition sparked fever pitch as fans of the Islamic Republic of Iran giants turned up in the tens of thousands to witness the 1-1 draw between two-time continental champions Esteghlal and inaugural AFC Champions League winners Al Ain.

Mame Baba Thiam put the hosts a goal up from the spot just before half-time before Tsukasa Shiotani levelled with 12 minutes to play as Esteghlal remained top of the standings, two points ahead of third-place Al Ain who have drawn four from four.