Firstly to Japan, where Kennedy scored the decisive goal in Nagoya Grampus' 1-0 victory over Alex Brosque's Shimizu S-Pulse.

Both Australians started the game, but it was Kennedy with the first meaningful action when his eighth-minute header went straight at Shimizu keeper Akihiro Hayashi.

On the half hour mark, Brosque was sent a long diagonal ball which he couldn't control in the box when in behind the Grampus defence, allowing visiting keeper Seigo Narazaki to swoop.

On 33 minutes, Kennedy would make the breakthrough from the spot after Yutaka Yoshida's foul on Shohei Abe. Kennedy stepped up for the penalty, sending the keeper the wrong way to make it 1-0.

On the stroke of half-time, Brosque almost levelled after making a good run off the ball and receiving a pass, before his low right-foot shot was tipped away by Narazaki.

Kennedy almost set up a second for Nagoya on 88 minutes, with a lofted pass for substitute Kensuke Nagai but his effort went wide.

Elsewhere in Japan, Jade North played a full game as newly promoted Consadole Sapporo drew 0-0 with Jubilo Iwata, while Matt Spiranovic was absent as Urawa Reds lost 1-0 at Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

In China's Super League, Joel Griffiths made a successful debut for Shanghai Shenhua, scoring their goal in the absence of the club's more high-profile new signing Nicolas Anelka who was out injured.

Griffiths netted with a close-range header from a corner on 57 minutes as Shanghai drew 1-1 with Jiangsu Sainty.

Elsewhere, Dino Djulbic was on the scoresheet with a goal from a set-piece as Guizhao Renhe defeated Shandong Luneng 2-1.Meanwhile, Rostyn Griffiths wasn't in the Guangzhou R&F line-up which won 3-1 over Beijing Guoan.

In Korea's K-League, Socceroo Matt McKay made his debut for Busan I'Park as they drew 1-1 with Adrian Madaschi's Jeju United.

McKay put in a full shift in a central midfield role, while Madaschi also played a full game. The former Melbourne Heart defender was caught out for Busan's goal when a defensive header put him under pressure and he couldn't clear, allowing Bang Seung-Hwan to score.

Elsewhere in Korea on Saturday, Matt Simon and Robbie Cornthwaite both played the full 90 as Chunnam Dragons went down 2-0 at FC Seoul.

Cornthwaite lost his marker slightly for Seoul's opener in the fourth minute, when star striker Dejan Damjanovic headed home.