Saitama: Urawa Red Diamonds will play in the AFC Champions League™ 2022 final after goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa made a pair of penalty saves to ensure the J1 League side handed Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC a 3-1 shootout defeat at Saitama Stadium 2002 on Thursday following a 2-2 draw in 120 minutes.

Nishikawa’s heroics mean the J.League side will face the top club from West Asia in the continental showpiece over two legs on February 19 and 26.

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 take the game into extra-time, where late drama ensued before Urawa won the shoot-out. Han Kyo-won thought he had won the game for Jeonbuk with only four minutes remaining as he slid in to steer home Lee Seung-gi’s cross only for Kasper Junker to net the equaliser.

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

⏰ FT [AET] | 🇰🇷 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors2️⃣-2️⃣ Urawa Red Diamonds 🇯🇵 (1⃣-3⃣ on penalties)

♦️ Urawa keep their nerve in the penalty shoot-out to secure their spot in the #ACLFinal!
#ACL2022 | #JBHvURA pic.twitter.com/gWROqY652y

— #ACL2022 (@TheAFCCL) August 25, 2022

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