AFC Champions League Elite - Yamaguchi adamant Frontale will create more history

Jeddah: Kawasaki Frontale goalkeeper Louis Yamaguchi has set his sights on securing a place in the final of the AFC Champions League Elite™ Finals Jeddah 2025 after helping the Japanese side advance to the semi-finals of the competition for the first time.

Yamaguchi and his teammates defeated Qatar's Al Sadd SC on Sunday to set up a last four encounter with Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr Club and the 26-year-old is determined his team’s involvement will not come to an end against Cristiano Ronaldo and company.

“Reaching the semi-final was really something we were looking for, it’s something historical for the club,” said Yamaguchi. “We don’t want to stop here. We want to go all the way and be champions. Now we’re focused on the next game.

“Al Nassr are a really big team and they really have some top players so we have to be careful, (we can’t give them) even one chance. We will try not to give them as many chances as they would (usually) get.

“I think it’s going to be a nice game, really excited about it and looking forward to it.”

Preview: Semi-Finals | AFC Champions League Elite™ Finals Jeddah 2025

Frontale on Sunday prevailed thanks to Yasuto Wakizaka’s extra-time strike after the Japanese side had twice seen Al Sadd cancel out one-goal leads.

Erison had put Frontale ahead in the fourth minute only for Paulo Otavio to level with a shot that Yamaguchi failed to deal with five minutes later. Marcinho restored Frontale’s lead in the 21st minute, but Claudinho levelled again with 19 minutes remaining.

“It was a hard game for us,” said the former Japan youth international. “We scored first and then we got scored against a few moments after that, so mentally it was quite difficult. Even at 2-2.

“It was a difficult game but the motivation in the team was superior to the result. Our opponent always came back and came back, but the team was really motivated and we scored the third goal so that was really nice.

“Defensively we have a lot of things to look at, me firstly. The first goal was a mistake of mine and after that I changed my mind and focused on what was coming next. I forgot that mistake and kept playing the game and focusing on my best performance.”

Kawasaki were backed by around 200 travelling supporters at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium on Sunday, but that committed band of fans will be significantly outnumbered by their Al Nassr counterparts at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.

Yamaguchi, however, has few concerns about playing in what is expected to be a challenging atmosphere.

“We heard from our training ground when they were playing (against Yokohama F. Marinos) so we’re prepared for it,” he said. “We just have to keep focusing on what we have to do on the pitch and not be submerged by the crowd. We’re going to do a good job.”

Yamaguchi adamant Frontale will create more history

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