Gulf News
Live: Kawasaki Frontale Stun Al Nassr 3-2 in AFC Champions League 2025 Semi-Final
Jeddah, April 30 – Kawasaki Frontale staged a dramatic 3-2 comeback to defeat Al Nassr in the AFC Champions League 2024-25 semi-final at Alinma Bank Stadium, securing a spot in the final. The Japanese side outmaneuvered Al Nassr’s star-studded attack, with a late goal sealing their triumph despite Cristiano Ronaldo’s early strike.
Match Details
- Date & Time: April 30, 2025 | 7:30 PM AST (12:30 PM EDT)
- Venue: Alinma Bank Stadium, Jeddah
- Competition: AFC Champions League – Semi-Final
- Live Stream: Paramount+ (USA), SSC Sports (KSA), DAZN (Japan), FanCode (India)
Tactical Recap
- Al Nassr: Lined up in a 4-4-2, leaning on Ronaldo and Jhon Durán’s finishing, with Marcelo Brozović pulling strings.
- Kawasaki Frontale: Opted for a 4-2-3-1, their high press led by Yuto Ozeki and Marcinho unsettling Al Nassr’s backline.
Final Score & Updates
| Minute | Event | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 23’ | Goal! Ronaldo (Penalty) | 1-0 |
| 28’ | Goal! Ito (Kawasaki) | 1-1 |
| 34’ | Goal! Mané (Al Nassr) | 2-1 |
| 43’ | Goal! Ozeki (Kawasaki) | 2-2 |
| 67’ | Goal! Marcinho (Kawasaki) | 2-3 |
| 90+5’ | FT | 2-3 |
Key Moments: Ronaldo’s penalty fired Al Nassr ahead, but Tatsuya Ito’s quick reply leveled it. Sadio Mané put Al Nassr back in front before Yuto Ozeki’s rebound goal made it 2-2 at the break. Marcinho’s 67th-minute rocket clinched it for Kawasaki, despite Al Nassr’s desperate final push. Yellow cards: Ali Lajami (41’), Yasuto Wakizaka (37’).
Confirmed Lineups
Al Nassr (4-4-2):
- Bento (GK)
- Nawaf Buwashal, Ali Lajami, Mohamed Simakan, Sultan Al-Ghannam
- Sadio Mané, Ali Al-Hassan, Marcelo Brozović, Otávio
- Cristiano Ronaldo (C), Jhon Durán
Kawasaki Frontale (4-2-3-1):
- Leo Yamaguchi (GK)
- Sai van Wermeskerken, Kota Takai, Yusuke Maruyama, Soichiro Miura
- Yuki Yamamoto, Kento Tachibanada
- Marcinho, Yuto Ozeki, Tatsuya Ito
- Shinji Kanda
Substitutions: Al Nassr – Ângelo Gabriel, Aymeric Laporte (40’); Kawasaki – Akihiro Ienaga, Yasuto Wakizaka (75’).
Key Players
- Al Nassr: Cristiano Ronaldo (1 goal, 5 ACL goals this season).
- Kawasaki: Marcinho (decisive goal, relentless wing play).
Match Context
- Al Nassr: Suffered their first ACL loss after nine straight wins, including a 4-1 rout of Yokohama F. Marinos in the quarter-final.
- Kawasaki: J1 League runners-up, earned their semi-final spot with a 3-2 extra-time victory over Al Sadd.
How to Watch Worldwide
| Region | Channel |
|---|---|
| USA | Paramount+, FuboTV |
| KSA | SSC Sports |
| Japan | DAZN |
| India | FanCode, Sports18 |
| UK | TrillerTV |
Kawasaki Frontale’s relentless press and sharp finishing, capped by Marcinho’s stunner, dashed Al Nassr’s dreams of a maiden AFC Champions League title. Ronaldo’s penalty wasn’t enough as Kawasaki march to the final.