Kawasaki: Kawasaki Frontale advanced to the quarter-finals of the 2017 AFC Champions League with plenty left in the tank on Tuesday, beating Muangthong United 4-1 to wrap up a 7-3 aggregate win in the Round of 16.
A 3-1 away victory in the first-leg set Kawasaki on the road to the next round, and the Japanese side never looked like ceding control of the tie in the second-leg at Kawasaki Todoroki Stadium
Control the key for Kawasaki
With three away goals in the bank and no need to force the issue here Kawasaki started the second leg steadily but sensibly.
Play was spread evenly over the pitch in the opening exchanges, with 57.7% in the middle third and the remainder almost equally shared at each end, but Kawasaki were in control of the ball on the whole, with 73.7% of possession.
After 31 minutes they turned their dominance into the first goal, all but sealing progression with an hour left to play.
Eight is great for Frontale
And what a goal the opener was. The move started inside Kawasaki’s half, as striker Yu Kobayashi retrieved possession in the right back position and laid it off to Yusuke Tasaka.
Ownership of the ball then changed hands – or, more correctly, feet – a further 15 times before ending up back with Kobayashi on the edge of the Muangthong area.
Eight Kawasaki players had contributed to the move in that time, and Kobayashi made sure to finish off what he’d started in style, making a yard of space before sending his effort under Kawin Thamsatchanan and into the net.
Pass-master Nakamura pulls the strings
Kawasaki midfielder Kengo Nakamura served up another masterclass in the centre of the park here.
The 36-year-old recorded an incredible 97.8% accuracy rating with his passes, including creating two chances – one of which was an assist for his side’s third goal.
The reigning J.League player of the year was then rewarded with a well-earned rest with 28 minutes to go; his job well and truly done.
Photos: Lagardère Sports
Source: the-afc.com