Sun May 11 15:30:00 UTC 2025: ## Japanese Underdogs Kawasaki Frontale Stun Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr, Reach AFC Champions League Final

**Jeddah, Saudi Arabia** – Kawasaki Frontale pulled off a stunning upset, defeating Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr 3-2 in the AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals in Jeddah. The victory sends the Japanese side to the final against Al-Ahli on Saturday, marking the fifth time a Japanese club has reached the competition’s final and the third consecutive year a Japanese team has made it this far.

Kawasaki’s forward Tatsuya Ito, who scored the opening goal, described the experience as “like a video game,” highlighting the presence of star players like Ronaldo and Sadio Mané on the opposing team. While Mané equalized for Al-Nassr, goals from Yuto Ozeki and Akihiro Ienaga secured the win for Kawasaki, despite a late goal from Ayman Yahya making the final moments tense.

Al-Nassr’s coach, Stefano Pioli, attributed the loss to individual errors and a lack of discipline, despite defending his team’s tactical approach. Ronaldo, who expressed his pride in his team’s performance on social media, is yet to win a major trophy since his move to Saudi Arabia. Al-Nassr’s defeat virtually guarantees another trophyless season for the club, currently sitting eight points behind league leaders Al-Ittihad with only five games left. For Kawasaki, however, the victory over a star-studded Al-Nassr team is a monumental achievement, setting the stage for a shot at the AFC Champions League title.

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