Struggling Avispa Fukuoka picked up a useful point in a 0-0 draw away to Sanfrecce Hiroshima in the Kyushu derby in the J. League on Monday night.

The visitors had the better opportunities in stifling heat at Big Arch and with a little more accuracy in front of goal could have taken all the points and lifted themselves off the bottom of the table.

Hisashi Jogo wasted a great chance after bursting into the box and shooting at Hiroshima keeper Shusaku Nishikawa and substitute Kentaro Shigematsu nearly earned a second straight win in the dying seconds of injury time, only to see his effort come back off the post.

The result left Fukuoka deep in relegation trouble on eight points at the midway point of the season, 10 points adrift of safety.

"We came here to win three points so it is a bit of a shame but the players stayed positive and battled hard," said Fukuoka manager Yoshiyuki Shinoda.