Al Sadd exit ACL Elite after extra-time heartbreak against Kawasaki Frontale

Doha: Al Sadd s AFC Champions League Elite journey ended in heartbreak as they fell 3 2 to Japan s Kawasaki Frontale after extra time in a gripping qu...

Doha: Al Sadd’s AFC Champions League Elite journey ended in heartbreak as they fell 3-2 to Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale after extra time in a gripping quarter-final clash in Jeddah on Sunday.

At the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium, the Qatari side showed immense character, twice battling back from behind. But in the end, costly defensive errors proved their undoing. 

Yasuto Wakizaka struck the decisive blow in the 98th minute, capitalising on a mistake by Guilherme Torres to seal Kawasaki’s spot in the semi-finals.

Kawasaki had taken an early lead in the fourth minute when Akihiro Ienaga played a slick through ball to Erison, who calmly slotted past Meshaal Barsham.

Al Sadd responded quickly, and by the ninth minute, they were level. Akram Afif found Otavio on the left, and the Portuguese midfielder fired a left-footed shot into the net.