Urawa beat Jeonbuk on penalties to take the AFC Champions League final spot in the East Zone

August 26 - Urawa Red Diamonds goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa was the hero of the Japanese side as they defeated Korea's Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in a penalty shootout to advance to the final of the Asian Champions League.

The two sides, two-time AFC Champions League winners, were tied 2-2 after extra time at Saitama Stadium. Urawa kept his cool to win the shootout 3-1.

Yusuke Matsuo had given Urawa an 11th-minute lead before Paik Seung-ho struck from the penalty spot 10 minutes into the second half to send the game into extra time.

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Han Kyo-won thought he had won the match for Jeonbuk with just four minutes left as he slipped in to head Lee Seung-gi's cross.

It was a short-lived lead as Kasper Junker, as a substitute, scored the equalizer and forced the penalties.

Nishikawa then denied Kim Bo-kyung and Lee Seung-gi in the first two rounds of penalties while Ataru Esaka hit the winning penalty with one round remaining to take Urawa to the final for the fourth time in their history and the third time in six years.

The J.League team will face West Asia's top club in the continental showpiece over two legs on February 19 and 26, 2023. The East Zone will not contest its Round of 16 Champions League before next February as the AFC changes its schedules. to follow the European season and away from the calendar year.

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