Al Nassr came into the game with a point to their name, having drawn with Al Sadd 2-2 in Riyadh, while Al Ain were hoping to put an end to their worst-ever run in the competition, having lost four consecutive matches, including a 4-0 defeat by Sepahan at home last week.

The home side failed to hold on to their 24th minute lead through Youssef Jaber as a brace from Bafetimbi Gomis steered Al Hilal to their second win in the competition as Shabab Al Ahli suffered their second consecutive defeat.

Al Shorta created several scoring chances but failed to beat Al Wahda custodian Mohammed Al Shamsi before Paul Jose M’Poku scored for the visitors two minutes from time to hand the Iraq club their first defeat of the competition.

Wang calmly slotted his 23rd minute effort past home goalkeeper Apirak Worawong to earn Beijing all three points in their opening game in Group E to join FC Seoul and Melbourne Victory at the top of the early standings.

Leandro’s strike curled past Liam Reddy to give Kenta Hasegawa’s side all three points to add to their opening day draw with Group F rivals Ulsan Hyundai on Matchday One, while Perth were left to travel home with nothing to show for their efforts against the 2019 J.League runners-up.

Making their return to the Continent’s top competition a week later than expected after a three-year absence, Choi Yong-soo’s charges prevailed in a 90-minute arm-wrestle, outlasting the visitors at a bitterly cold Seoul World Cup Stadium.

Seoul’s win sees them join Victory, who began their campaign last Tuesday, on three points, putting the 2013 runners-up on track for what would be a first knockout stage appearance since 2016.

Taggart joined Suwon at the beginning of 2019 and promptly finished as the K League’s top goalscorer after finding the back of the net 20 times in what was a largely disappointing league season for the former Asian champions.

Club captain Yeom, who top-scored in the Korean FA Cup as the side secured a return to the AFC Champions League, was hugely impressed with what he saw and believes the 26-year-old Australian could be the difference between success and failure on the Continent.