AFC Champions League Elite
The Japanese side did not advance past the quarter-final stage in their previous five appearances and as they get set to face Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli Saudi FC in the AFC Champions League Elite™ Finals Jeddah 2025 on Saturday, the-AFC.com takes a look at their journey to the decider.
League Stage
Frontale kicked off their campaign in fine fashion, with Marcinho's 54th minute strike securing them a 1-0 win against two-time champions Ulsan HD of Korea Republic.
#ACLElite | Ulsan HD (KOR) 0 - 1 Kawasaki Frontale (JPN)
That, however, was followed by a 1-0 reversal against Korea's Gwangju FC and 2-0 defeat to China PR's Shanghai Shenhua.
A 3-1 win against another side from China PR, Shanghai Port FC, revived Frontale's Round of 16 hopes and they followed that up with a 3-0 victory against Thailand's Buriram United.
#ACLElite | FC Pohang Steelers (KOR) 0 - 4 Kawasaki Frontale (JPN)
Another impressive performance saw them walk away with a 4-0 win against Korea's Pohang Steelers FC
with Central Coast Mariners the next to fall victim, with the Australian side losing 2-0 as Frontale finished second in the East Zone League Stage behind fellow Japanese side Yokohama F. Marinos.
Round of 16
v Shanghai Shenhua (CHN)
In a rematch of their League Stage encounter, Frontale found themselves in a spot of bother after falling to a 1-0 defeat against Shenhua in the first leg of the Round of 16.
#ACLElite | R16, 2nd Leg: Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 4 - 0 Shanghai Shenhua FC (CHN)
They were, however, at the top of their game in the return leg as Asahi Sasaki, Erison, Tatsuya Ito and Marcinho struck as Frontale walked away 4-1 winners on aggregate.
Quarter-final
v Al Sadd SC (QAT)
The last eight tie against Qatar's Al Sadd SC was a thriller with Erison opening the scoring in the fourth minute.
#ACLElite | Quarter-finals : Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) 3 - 2 Al Sadd SC (QAT)
Al Sadd, the 2011 AFC Champions League winners, fought back with Paulo Otavio drawing them level just five minutes later.
Marcinho restored Frontale's advantage in the 21st, only for Claudinho to force extra time with his 71st minute strike. The Japanese side, however, had the final say with Yasuto Wakizaka netting the winner in the 98th minute.
Semi-final
v Al Nassr Club (KSA)
Up next were Al Nassr Club, with the star-studded Saudi Arabian side the overwhelming favourites to advance to the final.
Frontale had other ideas and Tatsuya Ito's strike in the 10 minute showed that they meant business.
#ACLElite | Semi-finals : Al Nassr Club (KSA) 2 - 3 Kawasaki Frontale (JPN)
Sadio Mane's deflected effort restored parity but Yuto Ozeki netted just before the break as Frontale went into the break with their noses in front.
Akihiro Ienaga netted their third in the 76th minute and although Aiman Yahya's 87th minute goal saw Al Nassr threatening a fightback, Frontale held on for a deserved victory which took them within one match of lifting the trophy for the first time.
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