Ryota Oshima's first goal in the Asian Champions League gave Kawasaki Frontale a much-needed 2-1 win over Western Sydney Wanderers in Group H on Tuesday.
Labinot Haliti opened the scoring for Western Sydney shortly before the break, but captain Kengo Nakamura leveled for the hosts on the other side of halftime before Oshima won it in the dying minutes from 25 meters out at Todoroki Stadium.
Kawasaki, on six points with two games to play, is one behind South Korea's Ulsan Hyundai, who lost 3-1 away to China's Guizhou Renhe (4). Wanderers are ahead of Frontale on total goals scored.
"I hesitated for a second but I decided to go for it," Oshima said. "I'm glad it went in."
The J. League's other team playing on the evening, Sanfrecce Hiroshima, drew 2-2 at FC Seoul after Rafael equalized for the hosts in the 94th minute following the sending-off of Hiroki Mizumoto.