Determined Tianjin Teda ground out a gutsy goalless draw to cost Nagaoya Grampus top spot in Group G of the 2012 AFC Champions League at Mizuho Stadium on Wednesday night.

With two matches to play, Teda, last season's Chinese FA Cup winner, is thrid on three points in Group G behind Seongnam Ilhwa and Nagaoya Grampus.

Tianjin coach Josip Kuze praised his team's performance just two weeks after they suffered a comprehensive defeat to the same opponents on home soil.

"Of course, after losing 3-0 at home, we wanted to get a better result and give a better impression with a better performance today," said the former JEF United and Gamba Osaka coach.

"In my opinion, we played with a well-organised defense. We tried to defend first to bring a little bit of confidence, and after that we wanted to attack a little bit."

Tamada, a member of Japan's AFC Asian Cup winning squad back in 2004, slid the ball wide of goal in the 59th minute after his side had been awarded a penalty after Yuki Maki had been hauled down inside the area.

"It was a very hard game, the Chinese team was very motivated and my players looked very tired because of our very hard schedule," said Dragan Stojkovic, head coach of Nagaoya Grampus.