AFC Champions League Elite: Al-Sadd bow out after quarterfinal defeat to Kawasaki
Al-Sadd paid a heavy price for defensive mistakes and exited the AFC Champions League Elite after a 3-2 loss to Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale in the quarterfinal clash held on Sunday evening at Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium in Jeddah.
The match ended 2-2 in regular time, but during the first half of extra time, the Japanese side scored a decisive goal through captain Yasuto Wakizaka, capitalizing on a major error by Al-Sadd substitute Guilherme Torres.
The first half ended with Kawasaki Frontale leading 2-1. Arison opened the scoring for Kawasaki in the 3rd minute, followed by an equaliser from Paulo Otávio in the 8th minute. Then, Marcinho restored Kawasaki’s lead with a second goal in the 21st minute. In the second half, Claudinho scored Al-Sadd’s second equaliser in the 70th minute.
Al-Sadd thus bowed out of the continental tournament and will turn their focus to the domestic scene, where they are set to face Al-Duhail in the Qatar Cup final, and Al-Kharaitiyat in the Amir Cup Round of 16.
Meanwhile, Kawasaki will now face Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr in the semifinals of the tournament, with all the knockout stage matches of the current 2025 edition being played in Saudi Arabia.
