Reigning J. League champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima reached the knockout phase of the Asian Champions League for the first time on Wednesday with a 1-0 win over 10-man Central Coast Mariners of Australia in their final Group F game.

Cerezo Osaka joined them in the round of 16, on a triumphant night for Japanese clubs, with Uruguay forward Diego Forlan striking the winner in a 2-1 victory away to China's Shandong Luneng in Group E.

At Edion Stadium, Satoru Yamagishi diverted in Tsukasa Shiotani's free kick to break the deadlock with around 20 minutes left after Mariners Brent Griffiths had been sent off, and Hiroshima held on to finally progress from the group phase at the third time of asking.