Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Parramatta: A stoppage time winner from Kashima Antlers striker Mu Kanazaki dealt defending champions Western Sydney Wanderers’ hopes of making it into the knockout stages of the AFC Champions League a huge blow as the J.League side claimed a come-from-behind 2-1 win at Parramatta Stadium on Tuesday.
The holders had taken the lead midway through the first half through Nikita Rukavytsya but Kashima came out the stronger following halftime and on the 66th minute Shoma Doi had drawn the sides level.
With the visitors needing a victory to keep alive their own hopes of a place in the Round of 16 they pressed onwards and as the game entered added time the tireless Kanazaki found a priceless reward for his efforts to snatch all three points for Kashima.
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With both sides in search of victory, the game started with chances as plentiful as the rain that had been lashing the ground for two days.
In the opening ten minutes, Rukavytsya, fed by the impressive Mark Bridge, had two sights on goal for the home side, the second of those chances forcing a fine diving save from Hitoshi Sogahata.
Kashima created openings of their own with Caio at the heart of all things good, first firing the wrong side of the near post before releasing Doi who curled a shot from the edge of the box agonisingly wide of Ante Covic’s far post.
After the hustle and bustle of the opening ten minutes, Western Sydney settled into the game better, controlling midfield through Bridge, Iacapo La Rocca and Yojiro Takahagi.
Indeed it was Takahagi whose deft touch created the opening goal of the contest after 24 minutes. The Japanese playmaker sent a deft ball over the Kashima defence which found an advancing Rukavytsya who only needed one touch before sweeping the ball into the net.
Looking to mount an instant reply, Kashima came close to an equaliser only four minutes later as Shuto Yamamoto’s header forced Covic into a smart save on the second attempt.
It proved to be the away side’s last meaningful attempt of the opening half with Western Sydney profligate on multiple occasions not to double their lead before the break.
Striker Kerem Bulut was the beneficiary of two chances, before Romeo Castelen fired wastefully over from close range after being released by La Rocca.
After the half-time break Kashima came out the stronger of the two teams and nearly found an equaliser after 52 minutes through Caio.
Daigo Nishi sent a fizzing low cross into Caio, with the Brazilian’s flick on only finding the side netting with Covic beaten.
As with their last match against FC Seoul, Western Sydney found the second half tough going, and after 66 minutes, Kashima deservedly found an equaliser.
The hosts could only half-clear a corner to Yamamoto, who sent in a return ball that split the Western Sydney defence and found Doi. After taking a controlling touch the diminutive midfielder calmly curled his effort past the onrushing Covic and into the net.
The equaliser lifted the visitors but just as it seemed like time was running out for the J.League side, Kashima found a lifeline as Yamamoto found space on the left and drilled a cross into the penalty area that Kanazaki slotted home.
Photo: WSG