[Video]Mr. Tsuboi picked up an impressive scene from the ACL semi-finals where Urawa won. ``The defense that prevented the decisive pinch, not the logic, produced this result'' | Yabecchi Stadium

[Domestic soccer news]DAZN’s “Yabetchi Stadium #87” looks back on the AFC Champions League (ACL) semi-final match against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors the other day, when Urawa Reds advanced to the final for the first time in three years. Keisuke Tsuboi, the commentator, picked up a scene that left an impression.

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The semi-finals of the ACL East District became a deadly battle that even involved penalty shootouts.

Urawa took the lead. In the 11th minute, midfielder David Moberg made a quick restart following a throw-in on the right side, and in the end, midfielder Yusuke Matsuo pushed in a cross from defender Hiroki Sakai to open the scoring. However, Jeonbuk Hyundai is not silent. After getting a PK in the 52nd minute, MF Baek Seung-ho scored to equalize.

After that, when Urawa had a chance but could not score, the game went to overtime, and in the 116th minute, Jeonbuk Hyundai’s Han Gyo-won slid into the flow of a CK and took the lead. But this is not the end of the game. In the 120th minute, from Sakai’s overlapping cross, forward Casper Junker, who reacted to the loose ball in front of the goal, kicked in with his right foot, and Urawa returned the game to the beginning at the last minute.

Jeonbuk Hyundai missed three penalty shootouts, while Urawa scored three goals to end the match. Urawa advanced to the final for the first time in three years thanks to the support of many supporters.

Looking back on this match, Mr. Tsuboi cited midfielder Kaho Koizumi’s sliding and defender Shusaku Nishikawa’s big save as scenes that left an impression on him.

“In the 15th minute of the second half, Koizumi, who was in the opponent’s territory in a pinch, sprinted back and finally slid. In the 12th minute of the second half of extra time, Nishikawa made a big save by calmly responding to a numerical disadvantage.It was just after conceding a goal, so if we had conceded a goal here, it would have been the opponent’s pace.It is not a theory, The defense that prevented a decisive pinch finally produced this result.”

The final will be held in February next year, and Tsuboi said that there are some disadvantages, but he said, “Since the second leg is Saitama Stadium, the supporters will create the best atmosphere, so they will definitely help the players.” He says it’s great to be able to play the last game at home.