Reds stun Kawasaki for semis

Urawa score 3 goals in 15-minute blitz

SAITAMA, Japan, Sept 13, (AFP): Urawa Reds scored three goals in a 15-minute blitz to floor Japanese rivals Kawasaki Frontale 4-1 in a fiery encounter Wednesday and reach the Asian Champions League semifinals.

Slovenian Zlatan Ljubijankic, Brazilian Rafael Silva and Toshiyuki Takagi all scored late goals against 10-man Kawasaki as the home side overturned a two-goal deficit to win 5-4 on aggregate.

The Reds, who won Asia’s premier club competition in 2007, will face China’s Shanghai SIPG in the last four after a see-saw struggle.

“We kept our heads after going behind,” Reds manager Takafumi Hori told local media.

“Obviously it was a huge factor that they went down to 10 men but we still had to get the job done.”

Brazilian Elsinho put Kawasaki in front after 19 minutes, flicking the ball home after a comic error from goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa to stretch their lead to three goals after winning the first leg 3-1.

But Shinzo Koroki pulled one back for Urawa in the 35th minute before the tie took a dramatic twist moments later when Frontale defender Shintaro Kurumaya was sent off for a high boot that caught Koroki in the face. Kawasaki Frontale defender Eduardo (left), kicks the ball next to Urawa Reds defender Ryota Moriwaki (right), during the AFC Champions League quarter-final match between Urawa Reds and Kawasaki Frontale in Saitama

on Sept 13. (AFP)