On a cold and rainy night the home side were searching for their first win of the campaign after draws in their previous two Group E encounters with Shandong Luneng and Johor Darul Ta’zim.

It was the visitors who had the first clear shot on goal in the ninth minute when Koki Anzai found space on the edge of the area, but the defender lashed his shot wide of the mark.

Melbourne have endured a disappointing start to their Group F campaign, losing successive games to Korea Republic’s Daegu FC and Japan’s Sanfrecce Hiroshima to leave them propping up the table, three points behind two-time champions Guangzhou and six off top spot.

The Australian side have struggled on the road over the years in the AFC Champions League and have yet to record a victory in 20 attempts, meaning three points at Tianhe Stadium would be regarded as a huge turn up for the books.

The 2017 AFC Champions League finalists came from two goals down inside the first half an hour to rescue their second point in the continental campaign.

Groups E and G are first up when the eight sides take to the field on Tuesday, before the remaining teams in Groups F and H follow suit a day later.

After ending goalless with Korea Republic’s Ulsan Hyundai on Matchday One, the Australian side conceded late to lose 1-0 to Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale last time out and they now prop up the standings having yet to score a goal.

The hosts go into the game on the back of a crucial 2-1 win over Melbourne Victory on Saturday that saw them maintain their position in second place in the A-League while opening up a four-point gap on their opponents.

Junior Negrao struck the only goal of the game when 2012 winners Ulsan defeated Shanghai SIPG 1-0 in Korea Republic on Matchday Two as they moved a point clear at the top of the standings.

Since their last appearance on the continent, Ulsan have won three and drawn one in K League 1, with Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Sangju Sangmu consolidating their position at the summit.

For a second consecutive AFC Champions League tie, Zobahan conceded early only to rebound in impressive style to secure victory.

Caio's 14th minute opener at Al Wasl Stadium wasn't quite as quick as the goal Al Nassr's Giuliano netted to put Zobahan behind on Matchday Two, but the Isfahan side needed just two minutes to restore parity through Christian Osaguona before adding further goals from Amir Motahari and Hamid Bou Hamdan.