Back in 2007, Robson Ponte was Urawa’s top scorer as the Reds became the first Japanese team to lift the AFC Champions League when they overcame the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Sepahan in the final after a 2-0 win at Saitama Stadium secured a 3-1 aggregate victory.

So often the setting for dramatic encounters, Saitama – where Urawa also won the 2017 title – will play host to the quarter-final second leg against Shanghai SIPG on Tuesday and, with the score tied at 2-2 after the first leg, Ponte is confident the two-time winners have what it takes to advance past the Chinese champions.

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.

Early goals from Shoya Nakajima and Takumi Minamino proved decisive for Hajime Moriyasu’s side, who began their campaign with a minimum of fuss ahead of next month’s fixtures against Mongolia and Tajikistan.

While the four-time Asian champions were good value for their opening win, Myanmar’s defeat leaves them at the bottom of Group F, having also been beaten 1-0 by Mongolia in their opening fixture last Thursday.

Pereira’s side trailed at halftime to goals from Tomoaki Makino and Shinzo Koroki, but a pair of penalties from Brazilian striker Hulk salvaged a draw for the home side to keep alive their hopes of progressing to the last four when the teams reconvene at Saitama Stadium on September 17.

Two away goals but a 2-0 lead conceded ensures neither Urawa nor Shanghai SIPG will feel completely content after an intriguing first leg at Shanghai Stadium.