Chinese Super League squad Shanghai SIPG FC was defeated by J. League Division 1 team FC Tokyo, 1-2, in the first leg of the two team's round-of-16 knockout stage matchup held at the Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo on Tuesday, May 17.
A brace from Japanese winger Kota Mizunuma proved to be the downfall of the Red Eagles in the road match as head coach Sven-Göran Eriksson's side could only respond with a lone goal from attacking midfielder Wu Lei.
The 26-year-old Mizunuma netted his first goal at the 43rd minute of the contest off a free kick with barely a couple of minutes left before the halftime interval, giving the hosts a one-point advantage at the break, USA Today reported.
Shanghai was able to equalize the count ten minutes after the restart with a snapping rebound goal from Wu after Tokyo goalkeeper Yota Akimoto saved a strike from SIPG forward Lu Wenjun.
Tokyo midfielder Naotake Hanyu shot the ball into the cross bar minutes later and Mizunuma was at the right place at the right time for the put back strike, giving the hosts the lead for good at the 65th.
It was a fruitless game for the visitors as they were not able to score the equalizing goal with more than 25 minutes to play after the game-winner.
"I am happy we won," Mizunuma told the Japan Times after the match. "I haven't been delivering results so I was really determined to do that in today's match."
"I just tried to wallop my shot for the first goal and for the second goal I got a good connection on it. I'm relieved. We have got the home win and I hope the fans will come and watch us away in the second leg like they did in Vietnam (in the last group-stage game against Binh Duong)," he added.
The two teams' second leg encounter is set on May 24 at the Shanghai Stadium in China. With the home field switching places, Eriksson and his crew are hoping they could bounce back from their first leg loss as they try to advance in the quarterfinals of Asia's premier club continental tournament this year.