Frontale got off to a dream start as they took a 2-0 lead with two strikes in as many minutes as Toru Oniki’s side put the newly-crowned Chinese Super League champions under intense pressure.

Veteran winger Akihiro Ienaga blasted the opener into the bottom corner in the 12th minute, giving Yan Junling no chance with the former Mallorca and Omiya Ardiya player taking full advantage of a weak headed clearance from Bao Shimeng.

Frontale doubled their lead a minute later after yet another quick anticipation from Yusuke Segawa, who slotted in the rebound after Yan had pulled off a good save to block Erison’s initial attempt.

The Japanese side went from strength to strength and added another in the 33rd minute when Erison beat the offside trap and his cutback was dummied by Segawa to open up space for Sai van Wermeskerken to strike home.

Muscat rang the changes for the second half as Li Ang, Li Shuai and Matias Vargas were all introduced into the fray with Port starting to test the Frontale defence.

Three aerial chances were carved out by the visitors but neither Oscar, Wang Shencao nor Gustavo were able to steer their headers on target despite being left unmarked on each occasion.

Having survived a sustained period of pressure from Port, Frontale nearly extended their lead through Segawa in the 70th minute when the midfielder dribbled through a static defence only to blast his shot inches over the bar.

Port pulled a goal back in the 83rd minute when Oscar set up Vargas for a sumptuous finish from the edge of the box but that was all the Chinese side were able to recover despite a late red card to Ienaga as they suffered their second defeat in four matches.

Up next for Frontale are Thailand’s Buriram United while Port will go up against Korea Republic’s Ulsan HD.