Kawasaki Frontale clinched their place in the Asian Champions League Elite final with a dramatic 3-2 victory over star-studded Saudi Arabian outfit Al Nassr on Wednesday.

The J-League side took another step toward becoming champions of Asian club football for the first time thanks to a man-of-the-match performance by Tatsuya Ito at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah.

Kawasaki Frontale’s Tatsuya Ito (L) scores the opening goal against Al Nassr during an Asian Champions League Elite football semifinal at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on April 30, 2025. (Kyodo)

The 27-year-old forward struck the opener and helped create a second goal for Kawasaki as they outshone an Al Nassr lineup boasting the likes of Portuguese great Cristiano Ronaldo and former Liverpool standout Sadio Mane.

“It felt as if I was playing in a video game for a moment,” said diminutive attacker Ito, whose previous clubs include German Bundesliga side Hamburg. “I enjoyed the whole occasion.”

Young Japan defender Kota Takai also had a stellar outing for Kawasaki as he worked to contain the high-powered Al Nassr attack.

Kawasaki Frontale’s Tatsuya Ito (L) celebrates after scoring the opening goal against Al Nassr during an Asian Champions League Elite football semifinal at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on April 30, 2025. (Kyodo)

Having taken 120 minutes to overcome Qatar’s Al Sadd 3-2 in the quarterfinals on Sunday, Shigetoshi Hasebe’s men were also coming off one day less rest than Al Sadd, who had brushed aside Yokohama F Marinos 4-1.

Frontale goalkeeper Louis Yamaguchi was called into action early in the semifinal, sprawling to his left to deny Colombia international Jhon Duran.

Ito opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a superb volley from the edge of the box after Al Nassr defender Mohamed Simakan headed away Marcinho’s cross.

Mane made it 1-1 in the 28th minute with a shot that deflected sharply off a defender and left Yamaguchi diving in the wrong direction.

Cristiano Ronaldo (front) of Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr vies for the ball with Kota Takai of Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale in the first half of an AFC Champions League Elite semifinal in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on April 30, 2025. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Ronaldo hit the woodwork with a header before Kawasaki restored their lead as halftime approached, with Al Nassr keeper Bento Krepski parrying Ito’s shot into the path of Yuto Ozeki, who fired home with his first touch.

Kawasaki forward Erison beat two defenders with his dribble along the byline before setting up 38-year-old veteran Akihiro Ienaga to tap in and make it 3-1 in the 76th minute.

Aiman Yahya pulled a late goal back for Al Nassr, but Kawasaki held firm, with Yamaguchi stopping Ronaldo’s free kick in injury time to ensure a place in the final against Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli on Saturday.

“I think we can perform even better,” said 20-year-old center-back Takai. “I want to make a match-winning contribution (in the final).”

Yasuto Wakizaka (14) of Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale and teammates celebrate after defeating Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr 3-2 in an AFC Champions League Elite semifinal in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on April 30, 2025. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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