Kawasaki Frontale progressed to the AFC Champions League Elite final for the first time in their history on Wednesday, courtesy of a famous 3-2 win over Al-Nassr Club of Saudi Arabia.
Tatsuya Ito put Kawasaki-F ahead with a sensational strike early in the contest, and although Sadio Mane equalised for Al-Nassr just before the half-hour mark Yuto Ozeki made it 2-1 ahead of the break. Akihiro Ienaga then added a third for Kawasaki-F with 14 minutes remaining, meaning Aiman Yahya’s late effort was no more than a consolation for Al-Nassr.
Kawasaki-F took control of proceedings in just the 10th minute at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, as Marcinho teased his way in from the left wing and sent a ball into the area. Al-Nassr defender Mohamed Simakan got his head to the cross but was only able to divert it to the edge of the area, where Ito adjusted his feet before clinically volleying into the top corner.
Al-Nassr restored parity 18 minutes later though, as Mane’s shot after carving his way across the Kawasaki-F penalty area took a deflection off Yuichi Maruyama and flew past Louis Yamaguchi.
Cristiano Ronaldo powered a header against the frame of the goal in the 34th minute as Al-Nassr threatened to move ahead, but it was instead Kawasaki-F who were next on the scoresheet.
Ito was again centrally involved, picking up possession 35 yards from goal before driving into the area, and although his attempt was repelled by Al-Nassr goalkeeper Bento, Ozeki was following up to tuck home the rebound and re-establish Kawasaki-F’s lead four minutes before half-time.
Erison almost added a third nine minutes after the break but couldn’t quite connect after Bento got the slightest touch to Yuki Yamamoto’s cross, but the Brazilian was instrumental when Kawasaki-F did extend their lead in the 76th minute.
After drawing in Aymeric Laporte by the corner flag, Erison skipped infield, dribbled beyond Sultan Al Ghannam, and cut back across goal to leave Ienaga with the simplest of tasks of tapping home.
Kawasaki-F weren’t quite out of the woods yet, and Shigetoshi Hasebe’s side were made to fight for their place in the final after Yahya’s 87th-minute drive also took a touch off Maruyama before landing in the net to offer Al-Nassr a lifeline.
The pressure built as the clock ticked down, and Ronaldo threatened on three occasions in the 95th minute - Yamaguchi saving from a free-kick and then an effort from distance, before Asahi Sasaki flew in to block as the goal beckoned for the Portuguese forward - but Kawasaki-F weren’t to be denied and can now look forward to Saturday’s final against Al Ahli Saudi FC.
