Urawa Reds’ slim hopes of advancing to the knockout phase of the Asian Champions League ended on Tuesday night after the 2007 champions were beaten 2-1 at home to South Korea’s Suwon Bluewings.

Needing a win to stand any chance of qualifying, Reds took the lead through substitute Zlatan Ljubijankic’s header midway through the second half, but Ko Cha-won equalized in the 74th minute and Kaio added a late second to ensure Reds’ exit.

The result left Reds with just one point with one game remaining in Group G. Suwon has 10 points. Beijing Guoan (10 points) lost 1-0 to Brisbane Roar (seven) in the other group game.

“Unfortunately we could not take the slim remaining chance we had of qualifying,” said Urawa coach Mihailo Petrovic. “For the club and the supporters it is a real shame that we are out with one game still left to play (against Brisbane) and as coach I want to apologize to the fans that got behind us right until the end.

“The first half was the worst I have seen from us this season and it would have been no surprise if we had conceded three goals. It was down to (goalkeeper Shusaku) Nishikawa that it was 0-0 at the break. We are out but we have no time to let our heads drop. The season continues and we have to regroup for our next (league) game against Nagoya Grampus (on Saturday).”

Urawa started brightly and went close when Tomoaki Makino had a shot well saved by Suwon goalkeeper No Dong Geon after 11 minutes.

But the J. League leaders spent most of the remainder of the first period on the back foot as Suwon carved out a raft of chances.

Seo Jung-jin should have put the visitors in front on 20 minutes but had his tame shot saved by Shusaku Nishikawa.

The Urawa Reds goalkeeper then came up with a big save as Suwon looked certain to break the deadlock on the half-hour mark, blocking a shot from Yang San-min with his legs after the defender had arrived unmarked at the back post.

Makino fired a free kick just over the cross bar early in the second half, Toshiyuki Takagi scuffed a decent chance in the 58th minute and then missed another golden chance soon after as Reds pushed for the breakthrough.

The breakthrough finally did arrive on 69 minutes. Takagi sent a perfectly weighted ball to the far post and Ljubijankic, on as a second-half substitute for defender Wataru Hashimoto, headed home to send the home fans behind the goal into raptures.

But the joy was to be short-lived as substitute Ko took advantage of slack marking to guide his header beyond Nishikawa and into the right-hand corner of the net and Kaio put the issue to bed when he clipped in the second with two minutes left.

“We did really well to get this result as we had six players out with injury,” said Suwon coach Seo Jung-won. “We could not take the chances we had in the first half and that made things difficult.

“We fell behind but we have been strong in the second half in the K-League and I think my substitutions in bringing on Ko and Kaio were a success.”

In Group H, Kashima Antlers kept alive their hopes of advancing in dramatic fashion, Mu Kanazaki striking the winner in second-half stoppage time to seal a come-from-behind 2-1 away to holders Western Sydney Wanderers.

In Wednesday’s games involving Japanese clubs, Kashiwa Reysol host South Korea’s Jeonbuk Motors in Group E, while Gamba Osaka travel to China’s Guangzhou R&F in Group F.