TOKYO: Gamba Osaka salvaged a win for the Japanese clubs in the first leg of Asian Champions League quarterfinals after defending champion Urawa Red lost away to Al Qadsia and Kashima Antlers was held to a 1-1 draw by Adelaide United.

Urawa Red had a bye through the group stage and was playing the first match in its Asian Champions League defense at Kuwait City, where it went down 3-2 Wednesday night on Khalaf Al-Salama’s late penalty kick.

Fahed Al-Ansari headed in Selim Bin Ashoor’s free kick in the 18th minute for Al Qadisia, but Edmilson equalized for Urawa in the 32nd with the first of his pair.

Bin Ashoor surprised Urawa Red’s goalkeeper with a free kick in the 57th, and Al-Salama’s penalty made it 3-1 with nine minutes remaining.

Edmilson’s last-minute goal at Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium cut the final margin to one goal.

The Kuwaiti team played short-handed because several of its stars were absent due to suspensions or injuries, including top striker Ahmed Ajab, who had a knee complaint.

Despite the loss, Urawa coach Gert Engels believes his club can reach the semifinals.

“We need to win only 1-0 in the match at home,” he said. “I’m confident the team can do it.”

Elsewhere, Iran’s Saipa was held to a 2-2 draw at home by Uzbek club Bunyodkor and Osaka rallied with two goals in the last 20 minutes after conceding a goal in the 7th to beat Al Karama 2-1 in Syria.

At Kashima, Japan, Australia’s Adelaide United scored in the 38th minute via Travis Dodd’s header, but surrendered the cushion on Robert Cornthwaite’s own-goal seconds from halftime.

Atsuto Uchida’s shot seemed to pose little danger until Cornthwaite, under no pressure, skewed it into his own net as he tried to clear.

Kashima breezed through the group stage with 28 goals, averaging more than four per game, to finish as the most prolific scorer in the preliminaries.

Adelaide, which is the first Australian team to progress to the knockout round in Asian football’s top club tournament, will host the second leg on Sept. 24.

In the other return matches at the quarterfinal stage, Bunyodkor is at home to Saipa, Urawa Reds hosts Al Qadisia and Gamba Osaka has home ground advantage against Al Karama.

The winners advance to the home-and-away semifinals series starting Oct. 8.