Despite their dominance in the first leg meeting in Saitama, J.League side Urawa prepare to face Ulsan with a 2-1 deficit after Sugimoto's opener was cancelled out by goals from Joo Min-kyu and Hwang Il-su.

And, says the 26-year-old forward, the Japanese club simply cannot afford to again be so wasteful in front of goal at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium.

Urawa Red Diamonds striker Kenyu Suigmoto was on target for his first ever goal in the AFC Champions League in their Round of 16 first leg tie on Wednesday to earn this week's top accolade.

It was, however, a bittersweet achievement for the 26-year-old as his first-half header was followed up by a pair of strikes from visitors Ulsan Hyundai in a 2-1 defeat.

Nevertheless, Sugimoto's performance was an impressive one. His goal was nominated for Goal of the Week and his all-round game was excellent with a passing accuracy of 91.3% the stand-out statistic. He was awarded a 7.7 rating to lead the Toyota Player of the Week standings.

Another J.League player, Serginho (below) of Kashima Antlers, took second place in the rankings as he scored the only goal in their 1-0 win over countrymen Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

Ulsan had not won away in the competition in more than two years but put in an assured performance at Saitama Stadium and, after falling behind, leveled before the interval through Joo Min-kyu before substitute Hwang Il-su struck a late winner. 

The victory means the Korean side now must only avoid defeat at home – where they have won all three of their games to date – to progress to the quarter-finals for the first time since winning the competition in 2012.

Two-time champions Urawa went into the game with a reputation for being formidable at home in the knockout rounds but it was the 2012 winners Ulsan who got their game plan just right to seal an impressive victory.

Thanks given, ambitious aims, and supporters praised all feature as the-AFC.com talks to those involved in the latest edition of the Continent's most presitigious competition.

A week ago, Kashima snapped Sanfrecce's run of five consecutive AFC Champions League victories and the visitors come into the tie looking to progress to their third appearance in the quarter-finals.

A Serginho goal in the first leg was the difference for the 2018 winners, and it was a return to the kind of form the Brazilian showed in last year's campaign as the forward netted his sixth goal in seven knockout stage ties.

Sanfrecce, meanwhile, are looking to advance to the quarter final stage of the AFC Champions League for the very first time and they will be relying on their impressive home form.