Kashiwa Reysol failed to break down a well-drilled Guangzhou Evergrande side on Wednesday and had to make do with a 0-0 draw at home to the Chinese champions in the Asian Champions League.
The result leaves both J. League champion Kashiwa and Guangzhou with four points from three games in Group H. Group leader Buriram United of Thailand was at home against South Korea's Jeonbuk Motors in a later match.
With Brazilian duo Jorge Wagner and Leandro Domingues being kept under lock and key, and the attacking threat of Hiroki Sakai being snuffed out after the break by a shrewd Guangzhou tactical switch, Kashiwa was frustrated for long stretches.