Serginho strike sees Kashima reach ACL final

Hong Kong: Brazilian striker Serginho scored in a fourth straight Asian Champions League game on Wednesday to earn Kashima Antlers a 3-3 draw with Suwon Bluewings, securing the Japanese side a place in the final of the competition with a 6-5 aggregate win.

Antlers, who finished as runners-up in the Fifa Club World Cup in 2016 but have never won an Asian title, will host the first leg of the final against Persepolis on November 3, with the return in Tehran a week later after the Iranians eliminated Al Sadd from Qatar on Tuesday.

Serginho’s strike eight minutes from time pulled Kashima ahead on aggregate after a thrilling second half that saw Suwon take a 3-1 lead having trailed at half-time. (Reuters)