The visitors were forced to play with 10 men for almost an hour following the dismissal of Zhou Ting, and fell behind when the Brazilian hitman netted eight minutes after the break.

Beijing had the chance to draw level four minutes later, but Hitoshi Sogahata saved a Tiago penalty.

The result means Kashima move three points ahead of Beijing at the top of Group F, after both teams had won their opening two matches.

Kashima had been in tremendous form leading into the game, unbeaten in all competitions this season and having scored 15 goals in their first two Champions League games.

However, their goal came under fire in the opening exchanges with Sogahata called on to make a fine double save in the 17th minute to keep the game goalless.

The 28-year-old shot-stopper first denied Zhang Shuei's goalbound header before recovering to block Tiago's follow-up effort.

At the other end Beijing goalkeeper Yang proved his quality when he palmed Toru Araiba's fierce drive to safety.

But Beijing's early pressure would be undermined by Zhou's dismissal in the 33rd minute, the defender upending Marquinhos to earn a second caution.

And eight minutes after the interval the visitors fell behind when Marquinhos slid the ball through to Danilo from the left and he stroked his effort beyond Yang.

Beijing's chance to restore parity arrived just four minutes later when Daiki Iwamasa was penalised for a foul in the area, but Sogahata dived the right way to deny Tiago an equaliser.

And Sogahata would come to his side's rescue three minutes from time, blocking Walter Martinez's shot with his legs to preserve a vital three points.