Ronaldo had three glorious chances to equalise at the end but failed to score. He, along with his Al Nassr team, are out of the AFC Champions League Elite after a 3-2 loss against Kawasaki.
Al-Nassr vs Kawasaki Frontale, AFC Champions League Live Blog: Catch all the action from the semi-final football tie between Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr and Kawasaki Frontale at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah
Ronaldo had three glorious chances to equalise at the end but failed to score. He, along with his Al Nassr team, are out of the AFC Champions League Elite after a 3-2 loss against Kawasaki.
Al-Nassr are heading towards exit with Kawasaki Frontale all set to make the final against Al-Ahli. What a result this for them!
Al-Nassr have not been their best tonight. Passes have gone astray, slow movement in the midfield, Ronaldo looks off-colour - all the ingredients for a disaster.
Wow! What a move this is from the Japanese side. Erison beats away from Laporte and somehow finds inside the box and squares it for Ienaga, who makes no mistake and taps in for his side's third.
The effort and performance from the Kawasaki Frontale players is bar none. The defence is staying astute and giving Al-Nassr players no room for any attack.
Yamamoto puts in a challenge to prevent Otavio from delivering a cross, but the latter goes down, and the Al Nassr players look for a penalty. But the referee points to the corner.
Spanish defender Aymeric Laporte goes down hurling his knee as the former Man City man looks to be in pain.
Al-Nassr players wear a desperate look on the field and Kawasaki are doing their best to keep the SPL side off their goal. Crosses in the box are neatly thwarted away and how long could Stefano Pioli's men sustain this?
How on earth as Kawasaki not score from there as Yamamoto tees up Erison for a tap-in with a low cross from the left, but Bento dives to get the slightest of touches and divert the ball away from Erison.
Al-Nassr are trying their best to find the equaliser but their efforts are not bearing any fruit. Cross after cross but no end product and moreover, Ronaldo is wearing a frustrated look.
Kawasaki start with their 2-1 lead over Al-Nassr 2-1 as the second half of the AFC Champions League Elite semifinal gets underway. Meanwhile, Kawasaki make changes - IN- Wakizaka, Erison OUT- Ozeki, Kanda.
Half-time whistle goes and KAW go into the break with their noses in front. Goals from Yuto Ozeki and Tatsuya Ito have given the Japanese side the lead despite Sadio Mane screamer. Plenty of chances at either end but J-League side will fancy their chances.
Al Nassr subs: IN- Angelo, Laporte OUT- Alhassan, Alajami
Yuto Ozeki, the Japanese player, has given KAW the lead. The J-League side charge forward, putting the Al Nassr defence under pressure. Ito gets the ball inside the Al-Nassr box and takes a shot at goal. Bento saves, but the rebound falls to Ozeki who makes no mistake and gives his side the lead.
Oh! What a hit. Marcelo Brozovic gets to the byline and crosses only for Ronaldo to stoop high and hits the bar. Al-Nassr not too far away from taking the lead now. Warning signs for Kawasaki.
CR7, who in his prime, must have scored aplenty of bicycle kicks, tries one but it goes well-wide. The Portuguese smiles but the former Real Madrid man is growing into the game.
Sadio Mane, the former Liverpool winger, has brought his side level in the semi-final. The Senegalese, shoots it from his right-foot and it hits Yamaguchi, and somehow goes inside the net, to the dismay of the J-League side players.
Al-Nassr players are unable to playout through the midfield as Kawasaki players narrow down the spaces. Marcelo Brozovic comes way deep to orchestrate play but the ball stays wide and leaving Ronaldo & co frustrated.
It comes from the left-back stealing the ball and passes it to Cristiano Ronaldo, who neatly passes it to Jhon Duran, but the former Aston Villa striker seems confused whether to shoot or pass, and opts for the former but hits long. Cristiano Ronaldo is frustrated!
Al-Nassr were living dangerously so far and it has finally come to fruition as Tatsuya Ito gives his side he lead in the semi-final. The ex-Hamburger SV player hits from his right boot to the right corner of Al-Nassr and gives his side a deserved lead.
Sadio Mane loses the ball in the middle of the park and the ball is grabbed off Marcelo Brozovic as Marcinho knicks it off him and goes inside the Al-Nassr box but his shot goes well wide. Al-Nassr on the backfoot!
Kawasaki Frontale almost take the lead, as a cross comes in from the right-hand side and M Simakan fluffs it and concedes a corner.
Al-Nassr have started off well with Cristiano Ronaldo with some tricks up his sleeve and soon, the ball falls to the feet of Jhon Duran, who brings the Kawasaki goalie into action.
We are minutes away from kick-off now. Remember, the winner of this match, will play Al-Ahli in the final.
When and where is Al-Nassr Vs Kawasaki Frontale, AFC Champions League Elite 2024-25 Semi-Final 2 match?
The Al-Nassr Vs Kawasaki Frontale, AFC Champions League 2024-25 Semi-Final 1 match will be played on Wednesday, April 30 at Al Inma Bank Stadium with kick off time set at 10:00 PM IST.
Where to watch Al-Nassr Vs Kawasaki Frontale, AFC Champions League 2024-25 Semi-Final 2 match?
The Al-Nassr Vs Kawasaki Frontale, AFC Champions League 2024-25 Semi-Final 2 match will be shown live on the FanCode app and website in India. The match will also be broadcast on the Sports18 Network channels.
The big news from the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium is that Al-Nassr mainstay and captain Cristiano Ronaldo is expectedly starting in the semi-final encounter. Here's how the two teams line up ahead of kick-off in Jeddah:
The AFC Champions League semi-final will commence at 10pm India time. The face-off between Al-Nassr and Kawasaki Frontale will be live streamed on the FanCode app and website in India. It will not be telecast on any TV channel in the country.
Greetings and a very warm welcome to everyone joining our live coverage of the AFC Champions League Elite last-four clash featuring the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo. Stay tuned as we bring to you play-by-play updates from the Al-Nassr vs Kawasaki Frontale match.