JEF United Chiba missed a chance to bolster their bid for first-division survival by conceding a second-half equalizer to fellow strugglers Omiya Ardija in a 1-1 draw on Saturday night.

JEF went into the match at Nack 5 Stadium in 16th place in the 18-team division — having taken only a solitary point from its previous five games — and a first-half header from Brazilian striker Neto Baiano gave the Chiba side hope on a night when second-from-bottom Kashiwa Reysol drew 1-1 with Yokohama F. Marinos.

But an equalizer from Omiya's Rafael midway through the second half checked JEF's momentum, leaving the club five points adrift with manager Atsuhiko Ejiri still looking for his first win since taking over from Alex Miller late last month.