August 26 – Urawa Red Diamonds goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa was the hero for the Japanese side as they overcame Korea’s Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in a penalty shoot-out to qualify for the Asian Champions League final.
The two sides, both two-times winners of the AFC Champions League were tied 2-2 after extra time in the Saitama Stadium. Urawa held their nerve to win the shoot-out 3-1.
Yusuke Matsuo had given Urawa an 11th minute lead before Paik Seung-ho struck from the penalty spot 10 minutes into the second half to take the game into extra-time.
Han Kyo-won thought he had won the game for Jeonbuk with only four minutes remaining as he slid in to steer home Lee Seung-gi’s cross.
It was a short-lived lead as Kasper Junker, on as a substitute, netted the equaliser and forcing penalties.
Nishikawa then denied Kim Bo-kyung and Lee Seung-gi in the first two rounds of spot-kicks while Ataru Esaka hit the winning penalty with one round remaining to take Urawa into the final for the fourth time in their history and the third time in six years.
The J.League side will face the top club from West Asia in the continental showpiece over two legs on 19 and 26 February 2023. The East Zone do not play their Champions League knockout rounds until next February as the AFC transitions its schedules to follow the European season and away from the calendar year.
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