Defending champions Yokohama F. Marinos missed a chance to close the gap on runaway leader Jubilo Iwata to four points in the J. League first division Wednesday after being held to a 1-1 draw at home to Shimizu S-Pulse.

Brazilian midfielder Araujo's 42nd-minute opener looked set to give the visitors all three points at International Stadium Yokohama but substitute Daisuke Sakata salvaged a share of the spoils for Takeshi Okada's men with a close-range header in the dying seconds.

Yokohama climbed above Urawa Reds into second place on 18 points but still trails Iwata by six with six first-stage matches remaining.

Shimizu, which had midfielder Kota Sugiyama sent off 10 minutes from time, is on 10 points in 11th in the 16-team division.

Iwata falls to Chonbuk

IWATA, Shizuoka Pref. (Kyodo) Jubilo Iwata's hopes of advancing to the quarterfinals of the Asian Champions League ended Wednesday evening after a 4-2 loss at home to South Korean cup holder Chonbuk Motors in their penultimate Group E match.

Japan midfielder Takashi Fukunishi scored in the 70th minute as Iwata twice came from behind at Yamaha Stadium but Chonbuk earned a place in the last eight thanks to two goals in the last five minutes from Park Dong Hyuk and Nam Kung Do.

Chonbuk is three points clear of Iwata with one game remaining but advanced regardless of results in the final round of matches due to their superior goal difference in the head-to-head results with Iwata.

The South Koreans host China's Shanghai Shenhua and Iwata travel to Bangkok to play Thailand's BEC Tero Sasana next Wednesday.