For neutrals and football romantics alike, the image of a dejected Cristiano Ronaldo after Al-Nassr’s 3-2 loss to Kawasaki Frontale on April 30 in the 2024/25 AFC Champions League Elite was a powerful reminder: even in an era dominated by vast wealth, superstar lineups, and a growing sense of inequality where favorites often prevail, football still has room for underdog stories that capture its true beauty—where, on any given day, anyone can win.
To put things into perspective, Al-Nassr’s defeat came despite fielding a star-studded lineup featuring Ronaldo, Sadio Mané, Jhon Durán, Marcelo Brozović, Aymeric Laporte, and Saudi internationals Ayman Yahya and Nawaf Boushal. The match took place at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah—while not their usual home ground in Riyadh, it still offered them a strong backing from the Saudi crowd.
In contrast, Kawasaki were a team in transition, far removed from the side that dominated Japanese football in the late 2010s and early 2020s. Gone were the days of Kaoru Mitoma, Ao Tanaka, Hidemasa Morita, Miki Yamane, and Leandro Damião, along with the tactical mastermind Toru Oniki. Of the legendary core, only Akihiro Ienaga, Yasuto Wakizaka, Kento Tachibanada, and goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong remain—and just Tachibanada made the starting XI in Jeddah.
Five years earlier, current head coach Shigetoshi Hasebe was still at the helm of Avispa Fukuoka, guiding them out of the J.League 2 and turning them into a stable J1 outfit. Now entrusted with rebuilding Kawasaki, Hasebe is overseeing a youthful, evolving side that—despite its growing pains—currently sits 8th in the league, with a modest record of four wins, six draws, and two defeats from 12 matches.
Many had tipped Al-Nassr to go all the way in the tournament, especially after their dominant quarterfinal showing and a knockout bracket that seemed to favor the Saudi clubs. But the script took an unexpected turn just ten minutes into the semifinal in Jeddah.
Tatsuya Ito—a 27-year-old forward newly signed from German second-tier side Magdeburg—stunned the home crowd with a sublime volley to give Kawasaki an early lead. While Mané’s composed finish in the 28th minute briefly brought Al-Nassr level, Kawasaki responded with maturity well beyond their years. Just before halftime, 20-year-old midfielder Yuto Ozeki found space on the edge of the box and calmly slotted home to restore the visitors’ advantage.
The turning point came in the 76th minute. With Al-Nassr throwing numbers forward in search of an equalizer, French-Japanese goalkeeper Louis Yamaguchi stood tall, producing a string of composed saves to deny Ronaldo and company. Then came the knockout blow—substitute Ienaga, one of the last links to Kawasaki’s golden generation, latched onto a cutback and rifled in a third goal, silencing the Jeddah faithful and putting the game beyond Al-Nassr’s reach.
Yahya did manage to pull one back in the 86th minute, but it proved to be nothing more than a consolation. The damage had already been done.
For Kawasaki, this was more than just a tactical masterclass—it was a symbolic triumph. A team in transition, dismissed by many as a shadow of its former self, had gone toe-to-toe with one of Asia’s wealthiest and most star-studded squads—and emerged victorious. Under the steady hand of Shigetoshi Hasebe, this new-look side didn’t just pay homage to past glories; they carved out a legacy of their own, proving they are ready to write the next chapter in the club’s storied history.
Now, one final hurdle remains: the 2024/25 AFC Champions League Elite final—Kawasaki’s first-ever continental showpiece. Awaiting them is another Saudi powerhouse, Al-Ahli of Jeddah. Once again, Kawasaki will enter the match as clear underdogs, facing a side with far deeper financial resources and a roster brimming with star quality.
But if this campaign has shown anything, it’s that football still has room for stories that defy expectation. In an era increasingly defined by money and imbalance, Kawasaki’s journey is a powerful reminder that belief, unity, and fearless ambition can still shake the foundations of the sport.