Gamba Osaka slumped to a 4-1 defeat at home to Jeju United in their Group H AFC Champions League encounter on Wednesday.
Kenta Hasegawa’s men were looking to build on their strong 3-0 win at Adelaide United on the opening day of their Asian campaign in front of their own fans.
But things took a turn for the worse when Yasuhito Endo put into his own net right before the break with Lee Chang-min striking a minute later.
Gamba were already reeling going into half-time 2-0 down and Jeju pressed their advantage through Marcelo Toscano and Lee’s second of the evening, making Ademilson’s 89th-minute effort scant consolation.
Elsewhere, Kawasaki Frontale earned an admirable 1-1 draw at Eastern SC despite finishing the game with nine men.
Tatsuki Nara was shown a straight red card in the 13th minute for fouling Manuel Bleda in the box, with the Spaniard converting the resulting penalty.
Frontale still responded through Ko Itakura and clung on to the valuable point as Roberto hit the bar and Josh Mitchell’s effort was cleared off the line, before Frontale’s Rhayner received his second yellow card.
But Toru Oniki’s men returned to Japan knowing they had done the job as they sit third in Group G and separated only by goal difference with Suwon Samsung Bluewings in second.