Ulsan Hyundai, the 2020 AFC Champions League winners, enjoyed a dream start at the Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium on Thursday with Kim Kee-hee giving them a 24th minute lead.

Frenchman Andre-Pierre Gignac, however, emerged as Tigres' star with a brace, drawing the CONCACAF champions level in the 38th minute before scoring from the penalty spot in first half added time.

In a match where Al Ahly claimed a first half lead through Hussein El Shahat’s effort, Al Duhail bounced back stronger in the second half, but fine defending by the CAF champions saw them holding on for the win.

Frenchman Gignac, the Mexicans’ all-time leading scorer (146 goals in all competitions), turned the global showpiece's opening match on its head with an opportunistic brace – a tap-in and a penalty – late in the first half.

Two Asian teams will participate in this year's competition: Ulsan Hyundai FC as the 2020 AFC Champions League winners while Qatar champions Al Duhail SC will represent the host nation.

Ahead of the tournament opener between Tigres UANL and Ulsan Hyundai on Thursday, the-AFC.com remembers five of the best Asian performances in the history of the FIFA Club World Cup.

Don't forget to tell us which team produced Asia's most memorable performance in the FIFA Club World Cup in the poll below.

This week’s list of contenders features players from six different AFC nations, all of whom have excelled for clubs outside of the continent over the last week.

Study the shortlist, based on performances from January 28 to February 3, and don’t forget to register your vote.

In lieu of waiting until April’s kick-off, we are jumping straight into this year’s extended field, analysing the contenders, the challengers and the storylines ahead in the East Zone of Asia’s premier club football competition.

Join the-AFC.com as we look at what to expect, what to ask and what to watch in the matches ahead.

The opening matches are still more than two months away, but that won’t stop us from breaking down Wednesday's draw and examining what to expect from a mouth-watering selection of groups in the West Zone.

Join the-AFC.com as we look at what to expect, what to ponder and what to watch from the matches ahead.