The Brazilian hit the only goal of the game in the 54th minute to give Toru Oniki’s side the perfect start to the league phase in east Asia, joining K League 1 outfit Gwangju FC and Chinese Super League duo Shanghai Shenhua and Shandong Taishan on maximum points.
The four-times Japanese champions, who have never progressed further than the quarter-finals in Asian competition in 10 previous appearances, shaded a tight clash between the sides played out on a bumpy pitch.
Kim Min-jun stung the palms of Kawasaki goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryung in the sixth minute before Kim headed high over the bar at the end of a flowing move that saw Matheus Sales deliver an inviting cross from the left.
Moments later Yu Kobayashi forced a sprawling save out of Jo Hyeon-woo with a shot from 30 yards and, from the resulting corner, Marcinho directed a glancing header across the face of goal.
Jo was called into action again just after the half hour mark, the Korea Republic international flying through the air to claw Yasuto Wakizaka’s shot to safety after the Kawasaki captain made the perfect connection with a bouncing ball 25 yards from goal.
Kota Takai saw his header deflected wide as Frontale edged closer to the opener with Sota Miura also thumping a long range effort over the bar.
Kawasaki increased the pressure in the exchanges after the restart and, nine minutes into the second half, the Japanese side finally broke through.
Marcinho picked up possession on the left and, as Miura’s run created space, the Brazilian cut inside to unleash a curling right-foot strike from just outside the area that Jo, at full stretch, could do nothing about.
Joo Min-kyu was kept at bay by a despairing challenge from Asahi Sasaki in the 70th minute and Gustav Ludwigson was denied moments later as Ulsan sought the equaliser while Ataru Esaka’s ball across goal was too far in front of Yago Cariello for the Brazilian to score.
Kawasaki held on, however, with Jung denying Yago in injury time, the veteran goalkeeper moving rapidly to his right to push away a well-struck effort with his right hand.
