A superb performance from Daegu FC forward Cesinha in his side's 3-1 debut win away at Australia's Melbourne Victory in their Group F Matchday One clash on Tuesday saw the Brazilian pick up this week's top player plaudit.

Cesinha was directly involved in all of Daegu's goals against Melbourne Victory (three - one goal, two assists); more goal involvements than any other player in the 2019 AFC Champions League opening round.

But the Japanese side were given a stern test by the Malaysian champions, who were making their debut in the group stage of the tournament.

Hashioka’s brace came in the final 15 minutes of a tight game in which the Thai champions pushed the 2017 title winners for much of the match before the 19-year-old wing-back’s intervention swung the tie in Urawa’s favour.

The youngster’s match-winning performance in the Group G clash was the highlight for an Urawa side returning to the AFC Champions League for the first time since winning the title in 2017 and the veteran Brazilian plans to continue to give youth a chance.

The hosts struggled to break down a stubborn Buriram backline in the first half, before Makino opened the scoring five minutes after the interval and Hashioka – making his first ever appearance in the competition – added two late goals to finally see off the Buriram challenge.

The result marked a winning return to the AFC Champions League for Oswaldo de Oliveira’s side, whose last appearance was the second leg of the 2017 final when they defeated Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal 2-1 on aggregate to become two-time winners.

The home side had 17 shots to Ulsan’s 11 and controlled 56 percent of the possession, but in blustery conditions at Jubilee Stadium in Sydney’s south, the Sky Blues failed to convert any of their chances and extended their goalless run at home in the competition to four matches.

After a scoreless first half against the Iranian side, Benatia headed home the first goal as the hour approached to ease any opening-day nerves, before Youssef El Arabi and substitute Ali Afif both got on the scoresheet as the Qatari champions got off to a perfect start.

For Benatia, who was making his AFC Champions League debut after joining from Juventus, the game brought back memories of when he last faced Iranian opposition, back in June.

Morocco dominated against the Islamic Republic of Iran in their opening match at the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018, only to concede deep into stoppage time and suffer an agonising 1-0 defeat.