Yoshida announced last week that he was standing down after three-and-a-half years having led the club to the J-League title in 2023 and 2024, but Kobe were unable to give the 48-year-old a winning send-off.
Yoshinori Muto put Kobe in front in the 18th minute on Tuesday but Chengdu forward Felipe lashed in the equaliser in first half stoppage time.
The Brazilian was on target again from the penalty spot with 13 minutes remaining but Sasaki was successful with his spot kick.
The draw means Kobe, with 13 points, are two points clear in the east region standings ahead of Machida Zelvia, who cruised to a 3-1 win over Ulsan HD from South Korea.
Asahi Masuyama, Takuma Nishimura and Oh Se-hun secured the points before Um Won-sang scored a consolation for Ulsan in the 55th minute.
Third-placed Melbourne City, currently on nine points, will leapfrog back over Zelvia if they win at fourth-placed FC Seoul on Wednesday.
Johor Darul Ta'zim moved up to sixth with a 0-0 draw against Shanghai Port during which the hosts twice hit the woodwork.
Buriram United were frustrated by a late penalty decision that earned Gangwon FC a 2-2 draw in Thailand after Mark Jackson's side had come from behind to lead. The former Central Coast Mariners' boss's new side have eight points, one ahead of ninth-placed Gangwon.
The first eight finishers in the 12-team league phase will advance to March's last 16 in both east and west Asia with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final to be played in a centralised venue in Saudi Arabia in April.
