May 1 – Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale overcame Saudi Arabia’s star-studded Al Nassr with a 3-2 won at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium to secure a spot in the AFC Champions League Elite final on Saturday against Al Ahly.
It was a stunning display of counter-attack football by Frontale who withstood the attacking brilliance of Al Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mane and Jhon Duran.
Frontale had overcome Qatar’s Al Sadd SC 3-2 in the quarter-finals and made six changes to that starting line-up for the semi-final. A Nassr had cruised past Yokohama F Marinos 4-1 and started the semi-final unchanged.
Al Nassr were quick to set the pattern of possession with a Jhon Duran’s effort from inside the area in the opening seconds. But it was Frontale who took an early lead on 10 minutes when a clearance fell to Tatsuya Ito hit a volley from just outside the box into the top left corner.
Al Nassr responded with Sadio Mane shooting wide before a minute later he Saudi Pro League were level with their next attack. Mane drove towards the Frontale goal before firing a shot that hit Yuichi Maruyama on the way in – 1-1.
In the 33rd minute Al Nassr should have had the lead but a Ronaldo header hit the woodwork. Just eight minutes later Frontale were back in front with 20-year-old Yuto Ozeki firing in the rebound from a Tatsuya Ito shot blocked by Al Nassr keeper Bento.
The second half saw Al Nassr, dominate possession against a well organised Frontale rearguard that quickly transitioned on the counterattack.
In the 76th minute it was their counterattack that set up their third goal. Erison beat Aymeric Laporte to the byline before cutting back to substitute Akihiro Ienaga for a tap in.
The Saudis pushed until the end and were rewarded in the 87th minute after Aiman Yahya’s effort from distance took a deflection in.
That set up a frantic finish with Ronaldo having three chances to level but Frontale held on to set up a Japan-Saudi final against Al Ahly.
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