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Towering defender Takai was lining up for J-League outfit Kawasaki Frontale against Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr in the semi-final of the AFC Champions League elite.
It is Asia’s version of the Champions League and the most prestigious competition in that part of the world.
Having seen off Didier Drogba’s old Chinese team Shanghai Shenhua in the last 16 and Qatari side Al-Sadd, via extra-time, in the quarters, it was Al Nassr’s formidable front three of Ronaldo, Sadio Mane and Jhon Duran up next in the last four.
But 20-year-old Takai handled the task well, with only Mane of the trio netting as Kawasaki came through 3-2 in Jeddah.