Post by : Badri Ariffin

Vissel Kobe from Japan has secured their spot in the AFC Champions League Elite semi-finals, overcoming Qatar's Al Sadd with a 5-4 victory in a penalty shootout that followed a gripping 3-3 draw at Jeddah's Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium.

The quarter-final match, part of the centralized knockout phase, was packed with exhilarating action right from the start. Al Sadd took the lead early with a goal from Rafa Mujica in the 6th minute. Vissel Kobe, however, quickly bounced back as Yuya Osako delivered an equalizer in the 24th minute.

In the second half, Al Sadd regained their pace, with Mujica finding the net again at the 61st minute, followed by Roberto Firmino extending the lead just four minutes later and putting the Qatari team in a dominant position.

Facing adversity, Vissel Kobe launched a stunning comeback, with Yosuke Ideguchi scoring in the 74th minute to add tension to the match. In a dramatic turn of events, Yoshinori Muto netted a late equalizer deep in stoppage time, taking the game into extra time.

Neither side found the back of the net during the additional 30 minutes, leading to a nail-biting penalty shootout. Vissel Kobe showed remarkable composure, winning 5-4 and becoming the first team to clinch a semi-final berth.

The quarter-finals continue this Friday, featuring Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli versus Malaysia's Johor Darul Ta'zim, followed by Japan's Machida Zelvia against Al Ittihad. The series will conclude on Saturday with Shabab Al Ahli facing Thailand's Buriram United.

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