Kawasaki Frontale to face Ronaldo's Al Nassr in Asian Champions League semis
JEDDAH: Japan's Kawasaki Frontale set up an Asian Champions League Elite semi-final against Cristiano Ronaldo and Al Nassr with a 3-2 victory in extra time against Qatari side Al Sadd on Sunday.
The J1 League club, who arrived at the inaugural Elite Finals on the back of five-match domestic winless streak, came through the quarter-final at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium in Jeddah after the match had finished 2-2 in normal time.
Frontale had twice taken the lead, through first-half goals from Brazilian duo Erison and Marcinho, with Al Sadd replying both times courtesy of their own Brazilians, Paulo Otavio and Claudinho.
However, Frontale captain Yasuto Wakizaka got the winner midway through the first period of extra time.
Frontale will now take on Al Nassr, captained by Ronaldo, on Wednesday in the Saudi-dominated last four.
The other semi-final, to take place on Tuesday, sees record four-time champions Al Hilal face fellow Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli. Jeddah is the host city for the final three rounds of the revamped tournament.
It took Frontale only four minutes to opening the scoring against Al Sadd, when Erison met Akihiro Ienaga's cross from the right first time to cushion his half-volley past Qatar goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham.
Al Sadd rebounded within five minutes, Otavio exchanging passes with current Asian Player of the Year Akram Afif before rifling his shot from an acute angle on the left that somehow beat Frontale goalkeeper Louis Yamaguchi at his near post.
Parity lasted all of 12 minutes, though. Marcinho played a one-two from deep with Yuki Yamamoto and raced onto the return pass to poke past Barsham.
Frontale maintained their lead until the 71st minute, when Claudinho sent a powerful drive into the net following Al Sadd captain Hassan Al Haydos' clever dummy to force an extra half-hour.
Frontale did find the killer blow eventually, Shigetoshi Hasebe's side pouncing on a mistake by Al Sadd substitute Guilherme in the 98th minute.
The ball found its way to Wakizaka, who swept home the finish to send his boyhood club into the semi-final.
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