20-year-old Japanese defender Kota Takai pockets Cristiano Ronaldo as Kawasaki eliminates Al Nassr

Young defender Kota Takai pocketed Cristiano Ronaldo in the 2024/25 AFC Champions League semi-final

By Emmanuel Akyereko

(Managing Editor)

Cristiano Ronaldo endured a torrid evening in the 2024/25 AFC Champions League semi-final clash on Wednesday night as he was pocketed by Japanese young defender Kota Takai in a clash that saw the Portugal captain and his Al Nassr side eliminated from the competition.

The 40-year-old barely got a shot on target as he struggled all night against the 20-year-old Japanese at the King Saud University Stadium in Royadh.

Takai, who was voted the 2024 J.League Rookie of the Year, won all 1v1 duels against the former Real Madrid superstar apart from a 32nd minute header from which the former Ballon d`Or winner almost scored from.

Takai, who received raving reviews from commentators during the game, was rated 7.1/10 following his superlative performance in the game for the Japanese side.

He was promoted to the Kawasaki Frontale first team ahead of the 2022 season. He made his debut in a 8–0 win over Guangzhou.

Takai made his debut for Japan national team on 5 September 2024 in a World Cup qualifier against China at the Saitama Stadium 2002. He substituted Ko Itakura in the 71st minute of Japan’s 7–0 victory.

In a game strategically controlled by the J1 League side from Kanagawa, Ronaldo was summarily pocketed by 20-year-old central defender Kota Takai as the Portugal captain enjoyed just little opportunities in the keenly contested game before 28,810 expectant fans.

The game had to travel for just 10 minutes before Tatsuya Ito struck the opening goal for Azzurro Nero with a sensational drive that sailed unstoppably into Bento’s net.

18 minutes later, Sadio Mane drew level for the Saudi Pro League side as he levelled the scoring on the 28th minute mark.

Kawasaki once again punished Al Nassr as a loose ball found the unmarked Yuto Ozeki just around the area 4 minutes before the interval to restore the lead for the Japanese side.

However, Ronaldo could have put Al Nassr into the lead on the 32nd minute as he watched his header from a Marcelo Brozovic cross only rattle the crossbar.

Matters got worse for the Saudis when 38-year-old midfielder Akihiro Ienaga powered home a strike inside the 76 minutes to seemingly kill off any fightback spirit.

While the struggle was ongoing in the Kawasaki defence between Ronaldo and Takai, Ayman Yahya fired in a rocket in the 87th minute to give Nassr faint hopes.

Ronaldo saw his last-gasp free kick stopped by the legs of Louis Thebault-Yamaguchi in the Kawasaki post.