“When facing a good team, a draw is an acceptable result. We were leading until the final moments; our opponents had nothing to lose, so they pushed forward aggressively, sending in numerous crosses and applying intense pressure."

Al Qadsiah Club head coach Brendan Rodgers was happy to share points with Pakhtakor following a tough match.

“It was a tough encounter against a big, strong team boasting high-calibre players. However, we succeeded in neutralising their key threats and delivered an outstanding performance; the players showed great spirit and gave their all, despite the high temperatures.”

Head coach David Prats is confident Al Shamal SC can compete against the continent’s best after seeing his side hold Tractor FC to a goalless draw.

“I am pleased with the players’ fighting spirit and high level of discipline on the pitch. I am confident in their ability to overcome challenges, despite the congested match schedule.”

Marino Pusic praised his players’ character and discipline after defending champions Al Ahli Saudi FC defeated Al Wasl FC 3-1.

“We must stay fully focused from start to finish. Our lapses allowed the opposition to score, win a penalty and create chances too easily.”

Vladimir Ivic urged Al Ain FC to maintain their concentration throughout their League Stage campaign despite their impressive start to the tournament.

"The better team won today and we could have scored more goals. They also had a few goalscoring opportunities but we did well to keep them at bay.

Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh felt Esteghlal FC should have won by a wider margin following their 2-1 defeat of Qatar’s Al Gharafa SC.

“We secured an important victory; the players demonstrated great professionalism and delivered an outstanding performance, despite the exceptional circumstances surrounding the match."

Ange Postecoglou was a delighted head coach after seeing Al Nassr Club bounce back in style to defeat PFC Neftchi 3-1.

“Given the limited time available, our preparations relied more on video analysis of the opponents than on on-field training sessions. This away match was by no means easy."

Simone Inzaghi knew exactly what paved the way for Al Hilal SFC’s 2-0 win against Al Sadd SC.

“Although we conceded possession in the second half, we defended superbly and succeeded. I had said before the match that we wanted to play on the counter-attack, and we capitalised on our key moments during the game."

Andre Jardine was in no doubt that Shabab Al Ahli deserved the points after they battled to a 2-1 win against Al Ittihad Club.

“We are all happy for these three points. To win this game was so important for us. It wasn’t going to be an easy game but everyone was so concentrated and it was a massive result for us."

Tomokazu Myojin saw plenty of positives after witnessing his Gamba Osaka side fight back from a goal down to defeat Newcastle Jets FC 3-1.

“Our consistent style of play is a testament to the players’ hard work and they deserve the praise. This way of playing demands a lot from them, both physically and mentally.”

Kevin Muscat believes Shanghai Port FC are moving in the right direction after the Chinese Super League side stayed unbeaten following a 1-1 draw with Daejeon Hana Citizen FC.

“The most important thing is that the team understood what we needed to do and it’s a positive night because it’s the first time for a Malaysian club to win in Korea."

Head coach Xisco Munoz was beaming with pride after Johor Darul Ta'zim cruised to victory against FC Pohang Steelers.

“This is Kyoto Sanga’s first continental victory and I want to dedicate this to our club, supporters and - especially - everyone who works hard behind the scenes at the club. This is a gift for the city of Kyoto.”

Ranko Popovic dedicated Kyoto Sanga FC’s first continental victory to those working behind the scenes after his side edged Ratchaburi FC 1-0.

"It’s a fantastic result. Everybody knows it’s not an easy place to come when you factor in the travel and humidity and the individual quality of the opponent."

Nick Montgomery did not hold back in his praise after Beijing FC picked up a hard-fought 1-0 win against Buriram United.

“With goalkeeper Hayakawa leading the way, we battled patiently and protected that precious one-goal lead. There is still plenty to improve in our performance, but the players worked hard to get the result.”

Toru Oniki was pleased to see Kashima Antlers pass a tough Cong An Ha Noi FC test, with the head coach praising his players for finding a way through a demanding fixture.

“We got off to a great start, scoring several goals in the first 25 to 30 minutes. That allowed us to play calmly, which was important in this match.”

Head coach Ricardo Rodriguez credited Kashiwa Reysol’s blistering start for their 5-1 win over Thailand’s Port FC.

“We must remember that we were playing against the Korean champions, who are a very good team. Our players did very well today and I’m very happy with the result.”

Michael Skibbe applauded his Vissel Kobe players for overcoming a stern test from Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC to secure a 2-0 win.