Nagoya Grampus stayed firmly on course for a place in the knockout stage of the Asian Champions League with a hard-fought 1-0 win away to Australia's Newcastle Jets on Wednesday.
Kashima Antlers also won to boost Japan's chances of having all four of its representatives in the last 16, the J. League champions romping to a 5-0 win at home to Singapore Armed Forces. Holders Gamba Osaka and Kawasaki Frontale both won to qualify for the knockout phase on Tuesday.
Yoshizumi Ogawa and Japan goalkeeper Seigo Narazaki were Nagoya's heroes in a tightly contested encounter at Energy Australia Stadium, Ogawa striking the winner in the 57th minute before Narazaki saved Sasho Petrovski's penalty to keep Grampus top of Group E.
With two games of the group phase remaining, Grampus have eight points, four clear of Newcastle and Chinese club Beijing Guoan, which was playing South Korea's Ulsan Hyundai in a later match.