Kawasaki qualify for AFC Champions League quarter finals

KUALA LUMPUR, May 9 (Reuters) Kawasaki Frontale became the first Japanese team in five years to qualify for the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League after a 3-0 home victory over Indonesia's Arema Malang in Group F today.

Victory gives Kawasaki 13 points from five matches, six points head of South Korea's Chunnam Dragons, who defeated Bangkok University 3-2 in their penultimate game.

Kengo Nakamura scored twice and Taku Harada added the other as Kawasaki ended Japan's five-year wait to put a team in the last eight of Asia's premier club competition.

While Kawasaki advanced, Japanese champions Urawa Reds wasted their opportunity after being held to a 3-3 draw away to Indonesia's Persik Kediri in Group E.

Budi Sudarsono grabbed an 82nd-minute equaliser for the home side after Urawa had fought back from 2-1 down to lead 3-2.

The result opens the door for Australia's Sydney FC, who drew 0-0 at home to China's Shanghai Shenhua.

Sydney have eight points, one behind Urawa with the two teams set to meet in Saitama on May 23 in the likely group decider.

Persik have a mathematical chance of qualifying but would need to beat Shanghai by nine goals in their last game and rely on Sydney drawing with Urawa.

Shinji Ono put Urawa ahead with a ninth-minute penalty after Robson Ponte had been brought down in the box.

Uruguayan striker Christian Gonzalez levelled for Persik 14 minutes later, also from the penalty spot, after a foul by Urawa defender Fabio Nene. Gonzalez then gave his team the lead on 31 minutes with a thunderous drive from the left.

Just five minutes into the second half, substitute Masayuki Okana crossed for Ponte to volley in Urawa's equaliser and Yuki Abe headed in from a corner in the 62nd minute to give the Japanese a 3-2 lead.

Victory would have given Urawa a place in the quarter-finals but Budi's late equaliser means there is still much work to do.

China's Shandong Luneng drew 2-2 at home to Australia's Adelaide United, which means that to top Group G they need a draw in their final match in a fortnight away to Korea's Seongnam Ilhwa, who TOday beat Vietnam's Dong Tam Long An 2-1.

The top teams from each of the seven groups join defending champions Chonbuk Motors of South Korea in the quarter-finals.

REUTERS TB PM2026