On March 12, 2025, Kawasaki Frontale faced off against Shanghai Shenhua at U等々力 for the second leg of the AFC Champions League Elite knockout stage round 16. After losing the first leg 1-0 on March 5, Kawasaki bounced back spectacularly with a 4-0 victory, clinching the aggregate score 4-1 and securing their place in the top eight for the first time since 2017.
The rain-soaked match began with both teams vying for control, but Kawasaki, spurred by the energetic support of their home crowd, took charge early. It was around the 24th minute when defender Sasaki struck gold, executing a stunning left-footed shot from just outside the box, finding the back of the net and leveling the aggregate score.
Midway through the second half, Shanghai attempted to retaliate but found Kawasaki’s defense resolute. Just after the 19th-minute mark, Ellison put Kawasaki ahead, scoring from Sasaki's brilliant cross. The excitement escalated four minutes later when Marcinho made his incursion from the left, and Ito capitalized on the opportunity, scoring his first goal since transferring to Kawasaki, extending the lead to 3-0.
Kawasaki's efforts were nearly thwarted at the 29th minute when Wakizaka's powerful volley struck the left post. At 39 minutes, Ienaga made another vain attempt, only to have his shot saved. Yet, closing the match on high spirits, Marcinho secured the final goal during stoppage time, solidifying their commanding 4-0 win.
Following the match, Kawasaki's manager, Toru Oniki, reflected on the team's performance. “We were finally able to show it,” he noted, praising his players for exemplifying their quality and resilience during the match. He also highlighted areas for improvement, particularly defensive strategies and turnover responses, emphasizing the balance between attacking prowess—given they netted four goals—and solid defense. Oniki commended Sasaki’s remarkable initial goal. "It was a remarkable shot, and I was slightly surprised by its beauty,” he mentioned.
Looking forward, Kawasaki will attend the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League, which will be held centrally in Saudi Arabia. Dates for the quarter-finals are set for April 25-26, with the semi-finals taking place on April 29-30, followed by the final on May 4. The draw for match pairings is scheduled for March 17.
After eight years away from this stage, Kawasaki Frontale heads to the next round filled with enthusiasm and ambition, hoping to build on this momentous victory and challenge for the title.