“It was like something out of a video game,” says Kawasaki’s Ito following Al Nassr’s shock defeat.

Tatsuya Ito of Kawasaki Frontale likened the experience of playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo in their Asian Champions League semi-final to stepping into “a video game,” after his team secured a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Saudi side, propelling them into the final.

Ito dismissed any feelings of awe as he opened the scoring with a stunning goal in the 10th minute at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah, setting Kawasaki on the path to a showdown with Al Ahli on Saturday.

“Al Nassr have Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mane and such high-profile players, and we faced some tough moments during the game against them,” Ito remarked.

“They had a strong attacking presence, but I felt privileged to share the pitch with them tonight.

“Seeing those star players right next to me before we stepped onto the field felt like something out of a video game.”

Kawasaki entered the match as underdogs, having required extra time to defeat Qatar’s Al-Sadd in the quarter-finals, but Ito’s perfectly executed first-time volley from the edge of the box gave his team an ideal start.

Mane equalised with a deflected shot just shy of the half-hour mark, but Ito was instrumental once again as Kawasaki reclaimed the lead.

The former Hamburg striker’s speed outpaced the Al Nassr defence, and although goalkeeper Bento parried his shot, Yuto Ozeki followed up to score from the rebound, restoring Kawasaki’s advantage.

Substitute Akihiro Ienaga extended Kawasaki’s lead to 3-1 with 14 minutes to go, a crucial cushion as Aiman Yahya struck from long range with three minutes left, setting the scene for a nail-biting finish in which Kawasaki ultimately triumphed.

“This win is significant, not just for our club, but for Japanese football and the J-League as a whole,” Ito stated after the match.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase the quality of the J-League. We are representing Japan.

“Before we took to the pitch, our manager told us we had come here to make history. We are doing just that. Hopefully, we can clinch the title in the next match and bring the trophy home to Japan.”