Thai Premier League champions SCG Muang Thong United and FA Cup winners Buriram United both rallied for a draw in last night's AFC Champions League openers.
Buriram United defender Osmar Ibanez, in blue, heads home the equaliser against Vegalta Sendai.
Muang Thong twice came from behind to earn a 2-2 home draw against South Korea's Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in Group F, while Buriram drew 1-1 with Vegalta Sendai in freezing conditions in Japan after Osmar Barba Ibanez scored in the 75th minute to cancel out Ryang Yong-Gi's 52nd-minute penalty.
At SCG Stadium, Jeonbuk stunned the home crowd after just five minutes, earning a penalty after Seo Sang-Min was tripped in the area by Muang Thong defender Panupong Wongsa.
Captain Lee Dong-Gook made no mistake from the spot, giving the 2006 ACL winners an early lead.
Both sides had their chances before Muang Thong put the match back on level terms just before half-time, also scoring from the spot.
SCG striker Teerasil Dangda was brought down by Jeonbuk defender Lee Kyu-Ro and Mario Gjurovski scored from the resulting penalty.
The visitors restored the lead in the 77th minute through Belgian Kevin Oris's header, only for the Kirins to salvage a draw through Phichitphong Chouichiu's deflected shot two minutes from time.
''Jeonbuk are strong and I am pleased with the result,'' Muang Thong coach Slavisa Jokanovic said.
''We played according to our plan, which was to defend and wait for chances to counter-attack.''
In the other Group F match, China's Guangzhou Evergrande beat Urawa Red Diamonds 3-0.
In Sendai, Osmar was initially the villain when he gave away a penalty but finished as the Thunder Castle's hero after he scored the equaliser.
The Spanish defender's hand-ball allowed Sendai captain Ryang to score from the spot to give Vegalta the lead after 52 minutes.
But Osmar equalised on 75 minutes, knocking in a towering header from outside the near-post after a corner.
Neither keeper was seriously tested before Osmar's foul allowed the 2012 J-League runners-up to open the scoring.
In the 60th minute, Osmar's attempt to undo the damage failed when his powerful 30-metre shot flew high.
Seven minutes later, another long shot from the 24-year-old, from outside the box, went straight into the hands of Sendai keeper Shigeru Sakurai.
Finally, though, in the 75th minute, Osmar managed to conjure the equaliser for Buriram.
''We played with discipline and I am pleased with my players' performance,'' Buriram coach Attapol Bussapakom said. ''We were in control even after we fell behind.''
Sendai coach Makoto Teguramori said: ''We may have to feel content that we did not lose our opening match.''
North Korea midfielder Ryang said the game was much harder than he had expected.
''We didn't move the ball well after we scored the opener,'' he said. ''We made mistakes and suffered.''
In the other Group F game, South Korea's FC Seoul thrashed China's Jiangsu Sainty 5-1.
RESULTS
GROUP E
At Sendai: Vegalta Sendai (JPN) 1 (Ryang Yong-Gi 52 pen) Buriram United (THA) 1 (Osmar 75)
At Seoul: FC Seoul (KOR) 5 (Damjanovic 8, 61, Yun Il-Lok 33, 56, Molina 87) Jiangsu Sainty (CHN) 1 (Salihi 80)
GROUP F
At Guangzhou: Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN) 3 (Barrios 16, Muriqui 64, Suzuki 90 og)
Urawa Red Diamonds (JPN) 0
At Nonthaburi: Muang Thong United (THA) 2 (Gjurovski 45 pen, Kim Yoo-Jin 88) Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) 2 (Lee Dong-Gook 5 pen, Oris 77)
SCG Muang Thong midfielder Mario Gjurovski celebrates after converting a penalty. TAWATCHAI KEMGUMNERD