OSAKA, Japan, Oct 8, 2008 (AFP) - Defending champions Urawa Red Diamonds battled to a 1-1 away draw with fellow J-League side Gamba Osaka in the first leg of their AFC Champions League semi-final match here Wednesday.

Midfielder Hajime Hosogai opened the scoring in the 22th minute for Urawa as he banged in from outside the box on a deflection from Takahito Soma's shot.

But Japanese international midfielder Yasuhito Endo's 81st-minute penalty salvaged the draw before roaring home fans at the Expo Stadium in Osaka's suburbs.

The result was just reward for Akira Nishino's men who launched a second-half onslaught that put Urawa on the back foot.

They got the equaliser when Soma was adjudged to have brought down Ryuji Bando in the box and Endo made no mistake from the spot, although Urawa have the handy away goal for the return leg on October 22 at Saitama.

In the other semi-final first leg match, Adelaide United beat Uzbeki giants Kuruvchi 3-0.