In a substitutive contest at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, the Japanese club Kawasaki Frontale dismissed their Saudi rivals Al Nassr with a 3-2 victory. The win represents Kawasaki’s biggest historic achievement, as they progress to their first continental decider. The Japanese club, under the guidance of coach Toru Oniki, showcased their tenacity and skill, overcoming the challenges posed by their Saudi Arabian opponents.
Kawasaki Frontale’s path to this first-ever final has been paved by dominance at home. Between 2017 and 2021, the team was relentless, winning four trophies. To boot, they won a J.League Cup, three Super Cups and two Emperor’s Cups in that span. Competing on the international stage was an all-new struggle for the club. It also provided a great stage on which to tell their story of growth and ambition.
Kawasaki Frontale opened the match with a sensational opening 10 minutes! Itō’s goal in the 10th minute sent shockwaves of joy among their tiny contingent of blue-clad fans in the stadium. The team kept their foot on the gas, Yuto Ozeki doubling their advantage in the 41st minute. Akihiro Ienaga would later put the icing on the cake and sealed all three points with his goal in the 76th minute, assisted by Erison.
For all of their flair and thrust, Al Nassr battled admirably to keep themselves in contention. Their efforts fell short. Al Nassr coach Stefano Pioli was disheartened by the loss. He appreciated the errors his side committed in the match.
“We made a lot of mistakes. This has cost us the match.” – Stefano Pioli
Pioli was clearly moved by the affection shown by the fans to his players after full-time.
“I feel the sorrow that the Al Nassr fans feel. I take the criticism, I bear the full responsibility.” – Stefano Pioli
Even as Kawasaki Frontale celebrated their victory on the pitch, players were processing the importance of their achievement. Forward Tatsuya Itō emphasized how historic this time was for their club. He highlighted its significance for Japanese football as a whole.
“For me, this is very important not only for the club but also for Japanese football, for the J1 League. This is a great opportunity to show the level of the J1 League. We are now a representative of Japan.” – Tatsuya Itō
Louis Yamaguchi echoed these sentiments, saying they were proud to be viewed as underdogs in this contest.
“We’re happy to be seen as the underdog,” – Louis Yamaguchi
He added, “We have nothing to lose, so our motivation is really high.”
Kawasaki Frontale’s dedication was evident as they traveled nearly 16 hours from Japan to Jeddah to prepare for this crucial match. The epic journey only heightened their excitement. It only served to strengthen their resolve to change the way people viewed them and help write their own unique chapter in Asian football.
Before the tournament, Hasebe had expressed a desire to help shift attitudes around his club and Japanese soccer. The manner of the team’s systematic dismantling of Al Nassr has most definitely started changing those perceptions.
The win represents a daunting reversal for Kawasaki Frontale. It was 2017 that they first progressed beyond the group stage of Asia’s leading club competition, reaching the quarter-final stage, but they hadn’t made it beyond the last eight since then. We see today that their current success is an indicator of their future growth and potential — indeed, on a much larger stage.
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