Yokohama F. Marinos stayed in contention for a place in the quarterfinals of the Asian Champions League with a 2-0 home win over Thailand's BEC Tero Sasana on Wednesday but Jubilo Iwata's slim hopes of reaching the last eight ended after a 2-1 loss to South Korea's Suwon Bluewings.
Daisuke Sakata opened the scoring late in the first half and South Korea striker Ahn Jung Hwan grabbed his sixth goal in five games to wrap up the Group F win in the 57th minute and lift the J. League champions on to nine points from four matches.
BEC, the 2003 ACL runners-up, were left rooted to the foot of the table without a point. China's Shandong Luneng Taishan were in action against Indonesia's PSM Makassar later in the day.
At a rain-lashed Mitsuzawa Stadium, both sides struggled to grips with the slick surface and the first clear-cut chance fell to Hayuma Tanaka, who fired straight at BEC custodian Mana Nopnad from a promising position in the 34th minute.