J. League champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Cerezo Osaka both drew in their opening games of the 2014 AFC Champions League on Tuesday.
　Hiroshima battled back to draw 1-1 with Beijing Guoan at home in Group F.
　After a scoreless first half, Beijing, guided by new manager Gregorio Manzano of Spain, took the upper hand with Ha Dae Sung’s 62nd-minute opener.
　But Chiba Kazuhiko cancelled that out with a volley off a Notsuda Gakuto corner in the 77th minute.
　Moriyasu Hajime’s side accelerated their attack after that but couldn’t produce another goal.
　Beijing midfielder Darko Matic was sent off for violent conduct in the 90th minute.
　Moriyasu said, “It would have been ideal if we could have won today’s game to start the campaign, but we’ve got the minimum result to move towards qualifying for the next stage. Our players didn’t drop their heads after giving away the lead. They played well, stayed cool and leveled the scores to produce this result.
　“I am more positive about this year’s campaign than last year. We have some injuries to some of our players and have a tough schedule together with the J. League. It’s the same as last year, but we have better depth in this year’s squad.”
　Meanwhile, Cerezo were held to a 1-1 draw by Pohang Steelers in Korea Republic in Group E.
　Japan forward Kakitani Yoichiro controlled a Yamaguchi Hotaru lob with his chest, beat his marker and fired home the opener for the visitors in the 11th minute.
　But the south Osaka team was put under pressure by their Korean hosts in the second half and substitute forward Bae Chun Suk equalized in the 61st minute.
　Cerezo’s new boss Ranko Popovic then brought on new striker Diego Forlan of Uruguay but the score remained the same.
　Popovic commented, “In the first half, we showed a type of football that we are aiming to achieve, but couldn’t play with cool heads after we gave away the goal in the second half. Considering how we played in the second half, I think this result is good for us.”
　On Wednesday night, Kawasaki Frontale will host Chinese club Guizou Renhe in Group H, while Yokohama F. Marinos will play Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in Korea in Group G.