Kawasaki Frontale booked their place in the AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals on Sunday, Yasuto Wakizaka striking the decisive goal in extra time to secure a 3-2 win over Al Sadd SC of Qatar.
Erison and Marcinho had twice given Kawasaki-F the lead during regular time, and although Shigetoshi Hasebe’s side were pegged back on each occasion by Paulo Otavio and Claudinho, Wakizaka was on hand to deliver victory in the 98th minute and ensure Kawasaki-F a first ever semi-final berth in the competition.
Kawasaki-F got off to a lightning start at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, opening the scoring in just the fourth minute. Yuki Yamamoto started the move with a pass out to Akihiro Ienaga on the right flank, and the veteran took a touch before dinking a cute ball into the area for Erison to sweep home.
The lead didn’t last long though, and Al Sadd struck back just five minutes later when Akram Afif nudged the ball forward and Paulo Otavio was able to slam home from a tight angle.
Now it was Kawasaki-F’s time to respond and they did so impressively, re-taking lead in the 21st minute after another incisive attack. Yamamoto was again the instigator, chipping a ball over the top for Marcinho to chase, and the Brazilian utilised his pace superbly to get in-between defender Boualem Khoukhi and goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham and stab into the net.
Al Sadd weren’t giving up without a fight though, and after threatening a couple of times as the second half progressed they pulled level for the second time in the 71st minute courtesy of a fierce Claudinho drive from just inside the area.
Neither team were able to add to the scoring in the remainder of normal time, but eight minutes into the first period of extra time Kawasaki-F seized upon a defensive error to shift the tie back in their favour.
Yusuke Segawa closed down Guilherme by the corner flag, and after the Brazilian under-hit a pass inside Segawa took possession and fed Shin Yamada in the Al Sadd area. He in turn squared across goal to Wakizaka, who made no mistake and steered gleefully home.
Yamada almost added another for Kawasaki-F after a slip in the Al Sadd backline in the 104th minute, but after rounding Barsham he saw his attempt blocked by Ahmed Suhail.
That wasn’t to matter though, and with Al Sadd unable to come up with any further ripostes Kawasaki-F could celebrate their landmark achievement and look ahead to a semi-final against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr on Wednesday.
