Leandro and Shuto Abe struck for the J1 League side, before substitute Gonzalo Moreno breathed life into his side's bid for the points yet it proved just a consolation goal.

Both sides got the second half of their group stage campaign underway with their eyes firmly focused on moving closer to runaway leaders Ulsan Hyundai who had earlier beaten Perth Glory 2-0.

It took a last-minute strike from Jun Amano for the Japanese side to grab a 1-0 win, earning them the three points when the two teams met at the same ground on Wednesday. A result that means Yokohama F. Marinos need just three points to secure first place in the group.

Head coach Ange Postecoglou’s side arrived in Doha with six points already secured, having beaten Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2-1 and Sydney FC 4-0 in February.

The Japanese side put on an impressive display when the two teams met at Khalifa International Stadium on Wednesday. Kyogo Furuhashi scored in the same net either side of the halftime break before late goals from Douglas and Andres Iniesta sealed a 3-1 win for Vissel Kobe.

A 1-0 win against Suwon Samsung Bluewings in February, coupled with Johor Darul Ta’zim withdrawing from the competition, meant head coach Atsuhiro Miura’s side advanced to the knockout stage on their Continental debut, securing a top-two place in Group G.

The Korea Republic side left it late to translate their dominant display into goals, with Kim In-sung netting in the 87th minute, before Junior Negrao got his second goal of the tournament one minute from time.

Just three days after losing 5-0 to the same opposition, Chiangrai stunned the Koreans thanks to their Brazilian striker, who opened the scoring late in the first half, then poked home an 89th minute winner to keep Thailand’s only representative alive in the competition.

The result blows Group E wide open. Seoul remain in second place on six points, with Melbourne Victory and Chiangrai both three points adrift with two matches remaining.

Goals from Jonathan Viera and Zhang Yuning gave Bruno Génésio’s side a third win in the seven days, taking them beyond the group stage of the competition for the first time since 2015, and doing so with two games to spare.

While Beijing can look forward to the knockout stage, where they will join Japan’s Vissel Kobe, a third successive defeat in the competition leaves Melbourne Victory’s hopes of progression hanging by a thread, with the Australian club now relying on circumstances beyond their control if they are to extend their stay in Doha.