Urawa Reds pushed Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua towards the bring of AFC Champions League elimination with a 1-0 win at Saitama Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Close-season signing Yuki Abe scored the only goal of the game two minutes before half-time when he headed Robson Ponte's free-kick past Wang Dalei to move Reds onto seven points from three games, three clear of Sydney FC.

The result also leaves Shenhua without a point from their opening three games and failure to win the return against Urawa in Shanghai in two weeks' time will see last year's quarter-finalists exit the competition.

Played in front of a vociferous home crowd, Reds were in the ascendancy from the off, with Abe pulling a sharp save out of Wang as early as the fourth minute.

Brazilian striker Washington, the J.League's leading scorer last year as Reds won the league and cup double, forced Wang into action again four minutes later when he turned past the Shenhua defence before seeing the keeper dive to his left to save.

A minute later the former Brazil international attempted to lob Wang only to see his effort from the edge of the area hit the top of the crossbar.

Shanghai eventually shrugged off the pressure from the home side and started to fashion opportunities of their own.

Xie Hui fired his 10th-minute shot into the side netting and seven minutes later the former Aachen striker steered his header just wide.

Washington continued to pose a significant threat to the Chinese side's defence, which was missing Chinese international defender Du Wei due to a lack of fitness, but he was unable to deliver.

That was left to Abe, who outjumped the Shenhua defence as Ponte's free-kick curled in from the right before meeting the ball firmly with his head to give Wang little chance.

Reds continued to be the dominant force in the second half, despite Shanghai's desire to find a goal, with both Shinji Ono and Washington again going close.

In the end, Abe's goal was enough for Holger Osieck's side to pick up the win and maintain their unbeaten start to their first ACL campaign.