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Reuters

Andrew Cesare Richardson

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr were dumped out of the Asian Champions League Elite as Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale spectacularly ripped up the script with a 3-2 semi-final victory on Wednesday to reach the continental final for the first time.
And just hours later, Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami were beaten in their Concacaf last-four clash with the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Big-spending Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr succumbed in Jeddah when Yuto Ozeki and Akihiro Ienaga struck after Sadio Mane’s deflected effort in the 28th minute had cancelled out Tatsuya Ito’s 10th-minute opener for the J-League side.
Aiman Yahya scored from distance with three minutes left for Al-Nassr to set up a tense finish but Frontale held on.
Kawasaki will face Al-Ahli, another Saudi side boasting a squad packed with high-profile foreign internationals, in Saturday’s final, with both clubs looking to win their maiden continental crown.

Sometimes the dream has to wait. I’m proud of this team and everything we gave on the pitch. 🟡🔵
Thank you to all the fans who believed in us and stood by us every step of the way. Your support means the world. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/sLP6k4ihrH
— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) April 30, 2025

Al-Nassr boss Stefano Pioli blamed an error-strewn display for his side’s exit.
“We have made a lot of mistakes and this has cost us the match,” the ex-AC Milan head coach said. “It is always very difficult to lose in a semi-final.
“Our opponent surprised us, they played at a very high level and the problem was that we were not disciplined. We committed a lot of mistakes and we didn’t play at our full capacity.”
Underdogs Kawasaki, who had needed extra time to defeat Qatar’s Al-Sadd in the quarter-finals on Sunday, made an encouraging start, with Marcinho outmuscling Marcelo Brozovic to win possession 35 yards from goal before shooting wide.
They took the lead four minutes later when Ozeki found Marcinho, whose effort was batted away to the unmarked Ito who lashed a first-time volley into the top corner to stun the Saudi fans.
Al-Nassr struggled in the opening stages, with a Jhon Duran shot that flew high and wide after he was fed by Ronaldo in the 18th minute was a rare sight of goal for Stefano Pioli’s side.
That changed when Mane levelled with the help of a deflection off the shoulder of Yuichi Maruyama that took his right-foot shot past Kawasaki goalkeeper Louis Yamaguchi.

Ronaldo then rattled the frame of the goal with a header moments after sending an overhead effort wide of the target as Al-Nassr started to take control of proceedings.
But with four minutes left in the half, Kawasaki reclaimed the lead after Bento saved Ito’s close-range shot and Ozeki calmly converted the rebound.
Frontale’s decisive third came 14 minutes from time after Erison drove along the Al-Nassr byline to set up fellow substitute Ienaga to strike.
Yahya thumped home Al-Nassr’s second in the 87th minute before Yamaguchi twice denied an increasingly desperate Ronaldo in injury time as Kawasaki claimed a famous win.
Meanwhile, Messi’s Inter Miami, trailing 2-0 from the first leg, were beaten 3-1 at home by the Whitecaps as their continental journey comes to an end.
The Vancouver Whitecaps will face Mexican opposition in the final with Cruz Azul and Tigres in the other semi-final, which is finely poised at 1-1 after the first leg.


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Al-Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo shows his disappointment after AFC Champions League Elite elimination. Photo: AP

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Sport

Football

Al-Nassr stunned by Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale in AFC version while Inter Miami lose to Vancouver Whitecaps in Concacaf competition


Al-Nassr stunned by Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale in AFC version while Inter Miami lose to Vancouver Whitecaps in Concacaf competition.


Cristiano Ronaldo

Lionel Messi

Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi knocked out in their Champions League semis

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Al-Nassr stunned by Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale in AFC version while Inter Miami lose to Vancouver Whitecaps in Concacaf competition

Al-Nassr stunned by Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale in AFC version while Inter Miami lose to Vancouver Whitecaps in Concacaf competition