Having drawn their tournament opener in early 2020 prior to the onset of COVID-19, Ulsan were unstoppable when the competition resumed later in the year in Qatar, going on a record-equaling nine-game winning streak that culminated in a 2-1 victory over Persepolis FC in the final as the K League 1 side added to the continental title they won in 2012.

Yoon was an integral part of the championship-winning team, scoring four and creating a further three as he picked up the MVP award on the back of a campaign in which his performances lit up the tournament.

The former Montenegro international forward’s low shot skidded under Port goalkeeper Worawut Srisupa in the 79th minute to take the former FC Seoul and Suwon Samsung Bluewings forward level on 37 goals with Korea Republic’s Lee Dong-gook.

Damjanovic’s goal guaranteed all three points for the Hong Kong Premier League champions after Roberto’s reactive volley eight minutes before halftime had given Alex Chu’s side the lead against the run of play in the Group J meeting.

Vulnerability at set-pieces cost Liu Zhiyu’s young Chinese side as the J-League club scored twice from headers at Riki Harakawa corners as Hiroaki Okuno and Tiago Pagnussat both found the target.

Ratchaburi suffered a 2-0 defeat against Korea Republic's Pohang Steelers, while Johor Darul Ta’zim lost 1-0 to Nagoya Grampus of Japan on Matchday One.

The two sides opened their campaigns with wins and with only the group winners assured of a place in the Round of 16, both will be eager for another three points which would see them open a gap at the top of the standings.

Nagoya worked hard to defeat Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim 1-0 on Matchday One while Pohang beat Thailand’s Ratchaburi FC 2-0.

The first team from the Garden City in a decade to appear on Asian club football’s greatest stage, the Stags arrived in Uzbekistan as outsiders in a group featuring two former AFC Champions League winners.

But despite their decorated Group H rivals, last year’s Singapore Premier League runners-up won't turn their backs on the freewheeling style that has made them one of Southeast Asia’s most watchable teams in 2021.

After failing to navigate the playoff stage in two attempts, Chiangrai United finally made their group stage debut last year. The campaign ended in heartbreak as they finished bottom of the group, but there were plenty of positives for the Thai side including a maiden win against Korea Republic’s FC Seoul.