Overview
- Sanfrecce Hiroshima finished with 10 men after Kim Ju-sung was sent off in the 26th minute in Johor.
- Second-half goals from Ager Aketxe, Bérgson da Silva and Marcos Guilherme all came from JDT substitutes.
- A late own goal by JDT's Nené reduced the margin to 3-1, giving Hiroshima a lifeline before next week's return leg in Japan.
- Vissel Kobe secured a 1-0 first-leg win at FC Seoul through Matheus Thuler's header, and Seoul's Leonardo Ruiz later missed a penalty.
- Elsewhere in the east, Melbourne City drew 1-1 with Buriram United and Gangwon FC held Machida Zelvia 0-0, while western-zone ties were postponed after U.S. and Israel attacks on Iran as the Jeddah finals window of April 16–25 faces uncertainty.