Anderson Lopes gave the Japanese side the lead in the seventh minute before his Brazilian compatriot Yan Matheus doubled the lead in the 69th minute.

However, substitute Chen Pu reduced the Chinese side’s deficit in the second half injury time to set up a fascinating second leg.

There were warning signs for the China PR club as early as four minutes in when Lopes pounced on Shandong defender Shi Ke’s misplaced pass but was denied a goal by goalkeeper Wang Dalei.

However, there was no stopping the Brazilian forward as he put the visitors in front three minutes later. Latching onto Ren Kato’s mis-hit shot inside the box, Lopes’ left-footed strike on the turn whistled past 35-year-old Wang and silenced the home support.

Shandong failed to find their rhythm against the visitors who were proving to be a threat on the counter, but Valeri Qazaishvili tested Yokohama custodian William Popp with a powerful strike from distance in the 20th minute.

Harry Kewell’s side continued to run Shandong ragged and the Chinese side had Wang to thank again for keeping them in contention. In the 25th minute, Shi pulled up with an injury, letting Elber through on goal. The Brazilian winger found Lopes at the centre who squared it to Yan Matheus who was closed down quickly by the Shandong custodian.

Approaching the half-hour mark, the hosts almost found an equaliser when Fei Nanduo’s cross was met by Li Yuanyi whose header from close range whistled past Popp’s goal as Choi Kang-hee’s men went into the break knowing they needed improvements to turn their fortunes around.

The second period began with a much improved showing from the home side as Shandong forward Matheus Pato tested Popp with a header three minutes in before the woodwork stood between him and a Shandong equaliser in the 54th minute.

After some good work on the right wing, Fei Nanduo crossed into the middle for Jadson who guided the ball to Matheus Pato whose strike from close range rattled the left post of Popp’s goal.

However, it was Yokohama who struck next when Yan Matheus rolled a shot from the edge of the box past a wrong-footed Wang in the 69th minute to double the advantage.

However there was a final twist to come as Chen then came off the bench to score a 91st minute goal to make it 2-1 and give Shandong hope ahead of the second leg.

Having overturned a first leg deficit in their Round of 16 contest against Kawasaki Frontale to reach the quarter-finals, Shandong will have to repeat that feat to stay alive in the tournament when the two meet again in the second leg at the Yokohama International Stadium on March 13.