The victory ensured Nagoya top spot in Group G with a match to spare as it took the Japanese side to 15 points, with second-placed Pohang Steelers of Korea Republic on 10 after being held 0-0 by Thailand’s Ratchaburi FC in Sunday’s earlier match.

The victory sealed Nagoya’s progress into the Round of 16 with one match to spare as the Japanese side have 15 points, while second-placed Pohang Steelers of Korea Republic have 10 after being held 0-0 by Thailand’s Ratchaburi FC in Sunday’s earlier match.

Ratchaburi, playing in the AFC Champions League for the first time, held their own for 90 minutes in the Group G tie at the Rajamangala Stadium to walk away with a point and, in the process, deal a blow to Pohang's hopes of advancing to the Round of 16.

Labelled a must-win match by Matsunami prior to kick-off, Gamba dropped points against the Thai side for the second time in four days, with Felipe Amorim’s sixth-minute goal putting the Japanese outfit on the back foot from the outset.

An own goal from Chiangrai defender Brinner just after half-time meant Gamba escaped without defeat, but the result leaves them four points adrift of group leaders Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors with two games remaining.

The Singaporean side defended resolutely, limiting their opponents to chances few and far between in the opening half of 2021 AFC Champions League Group H tie and were even inches away from opening the scoring as goalkeeper Hwang Byeong-geun was forced into a fine save to deny Armin Bosnjak before the half-hour mark.

A Stanislav Iljutcenko header late in the first half was the difference until an hour into the game when things started to unravel quickly with Yasir Hanapi receiving two yellow cards in quick succession to leave his side a man short. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors took advantage and added three more goals in the space of 11 minutes.

BG Pathum United overtook Viettel into second place after beating the V.League club 2-0 two days ago to sit three points behind defending champions Ulsan Hyundai FC and three ahead of Monday's opposition.

Vidmar, while happy to be back on the winning trail, is nonetheless cautious of what the Vietnamese champions could potentially throw at them at the Pathum Thani Stadium on Monday.

If a 7-0 loss against Kawasaki Frontale exposed the gulf between this inexperienced Beijing side and Asia’s top outfits, the 5-0 defeat to Daegu three days later served as a reminder of the focus needed at all times at this level.

Jankovic knows earning points against teams of that calibre may be a bridge too far for a side learning the ropes in senior football, but – ahead of their return fixture against Daegu on Monday – he believes his charges are good enough to improve in their remaining three matches.