Chinese football powerhouse Shandong Taishan embarked on their Asian Champions League campaign in Group G with a triumphant start, albeit after encountering a formidable challenge from Kaya FC-Iloilo of the Philippines.

The Brazilian trio of Moises Magalhaes, Matheus Pato and Cryzan Barcelos exhibited their prowess, each finding the back of the net in the second half, securing a well-deserved 3-1 win.

In the initial 45 minutes of the group stage opener, Shandong predominantly controlled possession, yet their efforts failed to unsettle Kaya goalkeeper Quincy Kammeraad.

Xie Wenneng, who netted twice in Shandong's recent 4-2 victory over Qingdao Hainiu in the Chinese Super League, appeared to have found the breakthrough in the 14th minute for Choi Kang-hee's squad. Regrettably, the elation was short-lived as the goal was disallowed due to an offside infringement.

In the midst of the relentless downpour in Manila, the champions of the Philippines Football League struggled to maintain their impressive performance, which had kept the game deadlocked. The pivotal moment of the match occurred shortly after the one-hour mark when Ricardo Sendra brought down Shandong captain Moises inside the penalty box.

Following the referee's decision to award a penalty, Moises assumed the responsibility and expertly converted from the spot, granting the visiting team a 1-0 advantage with thirty minutes remaining on the clock.

Shandong further solidified their position in the 71st minute when Pato, seizing upon a defensive blunder by Kaya captain Fitch Arboleda, maneuvered past the goalkeeper and get his name on the scoresheet.

In the 79th minute, Jarvey Gayoso breathed new life into Kaya's aspirations by skillfully evading Shandong goalkeeper Han Rongze and striking the ball into an unguarded net. This goal provided a glimmer of hope for the hosts, yet their aspirations were swiftly extinguished in stoppage time when Crysan sealed Shandong's victory with a goal in the injury time. 

Later in the day, Cristiano Ronaldo savored a winning debut in the Asian Champions League. His invaluable contributions propelled Al Nassr to a resounding 2-0 victory against a 10-man Persepolis side in Iran. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner graced the pitch for the entire 90 minutes, making a significant impact through his active involvement in the tie.

Ronaldo's presence proved pivotal in Al Nassr's opening goal, which transpired just beyond the hour mark. The Portuguese star initiated the attacking sequence that culminated in Abdulrahman Ghareeb's attempt being deflected off Persepolis full-back Esmaeilifar and finding its place in the back of the net.

A couple of minutes later, Al Nassr's left-back Mohammed Qassem surged down the left flank and unleashed a powerful strike that soared above the reach of Persepolis goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand, thereby doubling the visitors' advantage and clinched the win.

Al Nassr's victory in Tehran held significant meaning for Ronaldo, as it marked his remarkable achievement of participating in 1000 unbeaten games for both club and country.

This extraordinary feat solidifies his place in football history, as he becomes the first-ever player to accomplish such a remarkable milestone. Out of those 1000 matches, Ronaldo's team emerged victorious in an impressive 776 encounters, while settling for a draw in 224 instances.