Two-time champions Urawa stunned the hosts after just three minutes at Shanghai Stadium when Makino pounced on a goalkeeping error to put his side in front, before Shinzo Koroki doubled their advantage on the half hour with his sixth goal of the campaign.

But Hulk converted from the spot just minutes after the restart following Mauricio Antonio’s foul on Oscar and the Urawa defender was then adjudged to have handled in the box with 20 minutes to play as the Brazilian's second half went from bad to worse.

At half-time, Shanghai SIPG were facing the end of their proud unbeaten home record that had stretched to 19 matches in the AFC Champions League.

Two goals down after an early strike from Tomoaki Makino and Shinzo Koroki's sixth of the tournament on the half hour mark, the Chinese Super League side's best-laid plays looked in disarray after defensive errors.

But with a front three of Hulk, Marko Arnautovic and Oscar, the hosts had the firepower to come back into the tie following the interval.

Urawa took a two-goal lead into the half time break with efforts from Tomoaki Makino and Shinzo Koroki, but Hulk’s brace from the spot in the second 45 minutes leaves the Japanese side with a slender advantage due to the away goals rule going into the second game.

The two-time champions can progress with victory or a scoreless draw at Saitama Stadium on September 17, while a 1-1 draw would also ensure Tsuyoshi Otsuki’s side advance to the last four for the fourth time in the club’s history.

Attacking intent was present at both ends of the pitch, but clear-cut chances were few and far between for either side.

Al Ittihad were hoping to get a first win over their arch rivals since 2016, while Al Hilal were determined to lay the foundations for a third semi-final appearance in the last five years.

Between them, the sides have won three of the past six editions of the competition with two-time winners Guangzhou lifting the trophy in 2013 and 2015 and the J.League club Kashima being crowned champions in November last year.

The match also marks a repeat of the 2017 Round of 16 match-up which the Chinese side edged on away goals following a narrow 1-0 win at home and a 2-1 loss in Japan.

The Saudi side came from behind to secure their first-ever home win in an AFC Champions League knockout stage match as goals from Abdulrahman Al Dossari and Giuliano settled matters in a closely-contested affair at the King Fahd International Stadium on Monday.

Ali Asad had given the Qataris a 21st minute lead but it was countered by Abdulrahman Al Dossari’s close range strike a minute from the break, before Giuliano sealed the win for Al Nassr with a fine header in the 72nd minute on Tuesday.