Winning starts for Tianjin, Shanghai

Chinese Super League teams kicked off the AFC Champions League last-32 group phase with vital victories on Tuesday.

Tianjin Quanjian, making a first appearance in the tournament in which 32 teams are divided into eight groups of four, defeated Kitchee of Hong Kong 3-0.

Former French U-21 international Anthony Modeste, signed for $40 million last summer, opened the scoring in the first half as Tianjin, which finished third in the 2017 CSL, took control.

An own goal and a Sun Ke strike gave Tianjin the win despite the best efforts of Kitchee striker Diego Forlan, the 38-year-old who once starred for Manchester United and Inter Milan.

SIPG, semifinalist in 2017 after spending more than $100 million on Brazilian stars Hulk and Oscar, defeated Kawasaki Frontale 1-0.