WUHAN, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Wuhan Three Towns, who were crowned in Chinese Super League in their maiden journey in 2022, drew with the three-time titleholder Urawa Red Diamonds 2-2 at home in the Chinese team's AFC Champions League debut on Wednesday.
The game was also the first continental game on the home ground for Chinese football club after four years. Although local temperature dropped more than 10 degrees Celsius overnight due to rain, over 27,000 audiences came to the venue to cheer for their team.
Urawa Red Diamonds started the game aggressively, with Kaito Yasui's attempt in the third minute denied by Wuhan goalkeeper Xie Pengfei. In the 10th minute, Ghana forward Abdul-Aziz Yakubu helped Zhang Xiaobin thump the ball into a goal.
The Japanese team later posed more threat in the penalty area, but failed to get on the scoresheet before the first half ended.
Ten minutes going into the second half, Bryan Linssen headed the ball right into the net to level the score. In the 62nd minute, Brazilian striker Davidson edged the Japanese team again with a penalty kick.
Japan's striker Jose Kante equalized the score in the fourth minute of injury time to seal the game 2-2.
Wuhan, whose investors announced to halt further investment from September 1 and leading striker Marcao was absent due to injury, was enveloped in a shroud of crisis before the game. But the team showed high morale to lead the defending champion twice in the game and eventually earned a draw.
"It's a home game, and it's a pity that we didn't take this advantage to win the game. But in our maiden match (of the AFC Champions League), facing such a competitive defending champion, I think our players performed well," said Wuhan head coach Takahata Tsutomu.
In other games, Thailand's Buriram United cruised past China's Zhejiang FC 4-1, South Korea's Pohang Steelers defeated Hanoi FC 4-2, while Bangkok United beat Singapore's Lion City Sailors 2-1. ■
