Kawasaki Frontale have once again accounted for Central Coast Mariners in the Asian Champions League. The Japanese club hit the front just after half-time through Juninho in monsoon-like conditions but the Mariners managed to equalise through Matt Simon just prior to the hour-mark.

The visitors managed to negate most of Kawasaki's forward forays and looked like they would pick up a handy away point until Renatinho struck with just nine minutes remaining.

Three points for Kawasaki sees them virtually assured of a place in the round of 16 and the result was pleasing for coach Takashi Sekizuka who knew his opponents would come out hard.

"Our players played well with good patience," said Sekizuka.

"This was the game that Central Coast had to win to keep their hopes alive, so we knew they would come out with strong mentality.

"They came out hard and tight and that annoyed us in the first half.

"So I told them at half-time to keep cool heads and concentrate on the game and to try to win the game in the next 45 minutes.

"Despite those difficulties, our players tried to play their brand of football to the end of the game and that brought us this victory."