Japanese teams began their ACL campaign with mixed fortunes. On March 1st Nagoya went down 2-0 away to Hangzhou Greentown, while Gamba Osaka destroyed Melbourne Victory 5-1 (report follows). On March 2nd Cerezo Osaka laboured to a 2-1 win against Arema Indonesia, while Kashima Antlers ground out a goalless away draw at Shanghai Shenhua.