Vissel Kobe cruised to a 3-0 win over Chinese Super League champions Shanghai Port on Wednesday as goals from Erik, Taisei Miyashiro and Yuya Osako steered the J. League side to victory in its first Asian Champions League Elite clash of the campaign.

Vissel, the defending J. League champions who have yet to win the continental title in three previous involvements, impressed against their hosts, with Erik lashing in the opener from the edge of the penalty area in the 19th minute.

The Brazilian winger turned provider when he delivered an inch-perfect cross from the right for Miyashiro to score with a downward header past Port goalkeeper Chen Wei.

Kobe¡¯s third arrived just before halftime and Erik was again involved, releasing Gotoku Sakai behind the Shanghai backline and the defender pulled the ball back for the unmarked Osako to slot beyond Chen.

Kobe joined fellow J. League side Sanfrecce Hiroshima, South Korean clubs Gangwon FC and Ulsan HD and Buriram United from Thailand as winners from the opening round of matches in East Asia. Machida Zelvia drew its opening match against FC Seoul.

Former champion Ulsan needed a late fightback to secure a 2-1 victory at home over tournament newcomer Chengdu Rongcheng on Wednesday.

The Chinese Super League table-toppers took a 44th-minute lead when Pedro Delgado ¡ª also known as De Erjiaduo since gaining Chinese citizenship in 2019 ¡ª fired into the bottom corner of Jo Hyeon-woo¡¯s goal.

Substitute Um Won-sang leveled for Ulsan with 14 minutes remaining, racing onto Darijan Bojanic¡¯s long ball from inside his own half before beating goalkeeper Jian Tao.

Delgado was dismissed when he picked up a second yellow card in the third minute of stoppage time for a foul on Choi Seok-hyun and, two minutes later, Ulsan capitalized when Heo Yool scored the winner.

The first eight finishers in the 12-team league phase of the competition will advance to the knockout rounds in March with the quarterfinals, semifinals and final to be played in Saudi Arabia in April.