The Japanese Emperor's Cup winners had to wait until moments before the interval to open the scoring when Aria Hasegawa's low cross found the onrushing Tatsuya Yazawa who hammered home from close range.

Tokyo added a second when Michael Theoklitos could only parry Naotake Hanyu's shot into the path of Hasegawa on 56 minutes.

Brisbane improved in the second half at Suncorp Stadium with an Henrique chance and Mohamed Adnan header, but could not find a route to goal.

Tokyo's J.League rivals Gamba Osaka were not as convincing, falling to a shock 3-0 loss to 2009 Asian champions Pohang Steelers at home.

The Steelers stormed ahead in the opening half hour, with Kim Tae-Su netting on 13 minutes after Derek Asamoah's clever work, before Zoran Rendulic made it 2-0 on 23 minutes.

Hwang Jin-Sung, who assisted Rendulic's strike, set up the third, with Asamoah making it 3-0 on 76 minutes to seal an emphatic opening win for the Korean side.

There were more shocks in Tashkent with A-League strugglers Adelaide United stunning Uzbekistan champions Bunyodkor 2-1 with a blistering counter-attacking display.

Nigel Boogaard converted the impressive Iain Ramsay's corner on 13 minutes before Antony Golec made it 2-0 nine minutes after the interval, poking home Ramsay's blocked shot at the end of yet another swift break.

Bunyodkor looked a different side after the second goal but were left frustrated in the final half-hour by Adelaide goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic, who made a series of saves before substitute Kamoliddim Murzoev scored deep into stoppage time to break Adelaide's resistance.

Korean side Ulsan Hyundai started their campaign with a solid 2-1 victory over 10-man Beijing Guoan.

New signing Lee Keun-Ho set up Kim Shin-Wook to break the deadlock on 26 minutes.

Go Seul-Ki doubled their advantage 10 minutes prior to half-time before Guoan pulled a goal back through substitute Piao Cheng on 52 minutes.

United Arab Emirates Pro-League side Bani Yas made an impressive start in Group B, cruising to a 2-0 win over Qatari team Al Arabi.

Yousif Jaber scored from the penalty spot just before half-time for the Etisalat Pro League runners-up before Francisco Javier Yeste wrapped up the scoring.

In the other match in Group B, Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia defeated Uzbek club Pakhtakor 4-0 at home, with the help of a brace from Mohamed Abosaban.

Elsewhere, Iran's Esteghlal scored a late winner through Frenchman Goran Jerkovic in a 1-0 victory over Qatari side Al-Rayyan, while the Group A match between Nasaf Quarshi and United Arab Emirates champions Al-Jazeera was postponed due to heavy snow in Karshi.