The students' attempt to claim a victory over the Indonesia's Cup holders, which would have kept alive their slim hopes of qualification, was blighted by the heavy rains which greeted them on their arrival in Malang province in East Java.

The hosts were certainly more comfortable playing on a soggy pitch, and managed to cling on to the lead despite being reduced to only nine men at the end of a stormy game.

Given the outcome of the group's other match, which saw leaders Kawasaki Frontale of Japan trouncing South Korea's outfit Shunnam Dragons 3-0, the students' hopes of clinching top spot, which means qualification into the knock-out stage, were dashed. Coach Somchai Sabperm's men, who slipped to bottom place, now trail the Japanese by seven points with only two games left to play.

Although suspensions deprived the Thai team of the services of two regular players - goalkeeper Weera Koedputsa and midfielder Tanapat na Tarue - Somchai put out a relatively strong side, which included four players named in the Kingdom's Asian Cup squad.

Both teams missed chances in the first half and went into the break with the score tied 0-0.

The only goal in the match came in the 56th minute when Casimir headed home a corner kick, forcing Thai goalie Manteeva Lamsombat to dive in vain as the ball went in off the post.

The match was marred by rough play that cost the host team two red and three yellow cards.

Defender Suroso was expelled in 61st minute following a foul, while forward Basile Essa Mvondod was sent off in injury time for a foul and use of abusive language.

Meanwhile, Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua slumped out of the competition after a dour goalless draw against Japan's 10-man Urawa Red Diamonds.

Shenhua, quarter-finalists last year, picked up their first point in four games but it wasn't enough to keep them in the continental competition. They needed to win to stand any chance of reaching the knockout phase. Indonesia's Persik Kediri went down to Sydney FC 0-3 in the same group.