Elsewhere, despite several leagues on hold for the international break, there were new leaders in the exhilirating race for the 2019 J.League title, while there was also Cup action in Hong Kong and some goal-filled ties in the Guam championship.

For a round-up of all the domestic action across East Asia, here’s the-AFC.com’s look back at the latest round of matches.

Al Hilal were good value for the win and could have won by a bigger margin but the fact that, said Otsuki, the Saudi Arabia side didn't gives Urawa a fighting chance in the November 24 return leg in Saitama.

Al Hilal secured a 1-0 win over Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds in the first leg at the King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh on Saturday.

André Carrillo's 60th minute header separated the sides at the end of the 90 minutes, although Al Hilal could have well won by a bigger margin.

The hosts made their intentions clear from the start, controlling possession and building up pressure on their opponents, while Urawa kept a compact shape and looked to hit on the counter.

The first 20 minutes saw each side get a major opportunity, but heroic defending at both ends meant the goalkeepers would remain untested yet. Daisuke Suzuki threw his body to deflect Sebastian Giovinco’s shot 14 minutes into the game while Ali Al Bulayhi blocked Takahiro Sekine’s effort from inside the Al Hilal box three minutes later.

Japan 2-0 South Africa

All of the scoring came in the first half, with Olympique Lyonnais star Saki Kumagai notching a rare international goal in the 20th minute before Yuika Sugasawa added a second four minutes before half time.

Japan’s success follows last month’s 4-0 success over Canada, as the Asian champions look to challenge for medals in their home Olympics next August.

The Korea Republic forward edged Japan’s Yuzuki Yamamoto, who finished with five goals, and DPR Korea’s Kim Kyong-yong and Mary Fowler’s Australia - on four goals each.

Kang played a pivotal role for Korea Republic throughout their campaign when she took captain duties in the first game against China PR and scored two goals.

Goals from Yuzuki Yamamoto and Hana Takahashi proved the difference on a night when Futoshi Ikeda’s side withstood intense late pressure to retain the Continental crown they won at the competition’s 2017 edition and, in the process, seal their nation’s sixth success at this level.

Both teams will now go on to represent Asia at next year’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup – which Japan will enter as reigning champions – where they will be joined by Korea Republic who finished third after beating Australia 9-1 earlier in the day.