AFC Champions League
In a frenetic encounter at a rain-soaked Yokohama International Stadium, the Japanese side took a 3-0 lead by the 30th minute and 3-1 on aggregate, only to be pegged back by Korea Republic's Ulsan Hyundai with the match then needing penalties to decide the outcome.
Amazingly, Marinos played almost 90 minutes with 10 men, with Takumi Kamijima having been sent off in the 39th minute but not only did they not concede again, Kewell's side won the shootout 5-4.
#ACL - SF | East Zone (2nd Leg) | Yokohama F Marinos (JPN) 3 - 2 (5 - 4 PSO) Ulsan Hyundai FC (KOR)
"These two games (against Ulsan) have taken everything from us but I told my players they can handle it and they did. They dug deep. Credit to the players but also credit to my coaching and medical staff for making sure the players were ready," said Kewell.
"The work ethic of my players for well over 90 minutes was incredible. They worked hard as a unit and were very hard to be broken down.
"We rode our luck a bit at times, there is no question about that but we gave ourselves a chance. I had told them that the hardest matches you are going to play are semi-finals."
Asahi Uenaka’s double and a goal from Anderson Lopes put Marinos 3-1 up on aggregate but Ulsan pulled themselves back into the tie through a Matheus Sales header and a penalty from Darijan Bojanic, which was awarded when Kamijima was sent off.
Kewell, however, said the resilience of his players took them past the finishing line.
"We have been pushed to the limit, most of the time and tonight was no exception but if I am reflecting on the game, then for the first 35 minutes you can clearly see that there was only one team playing football which was outstanding."
"I mean the chances that we were creating, the movement patterns were incredible. Ulsan, for all their work and effort, had no attack in them in the first 33, 35 minutes in the game.
"I was happy, we took a commanding lead but unfortunately, we slipped there for a moment and they got back into it and then it looked like chaos.
"I am extremely proud of my players for they put a shift in, so well done."
Kewell has achieved with Marinos what his precedessors Ange Postecoglou and Kevin Muscat couldn't achieve with Marinos - steer them into the AFC Champions League final but the Australian said his compatriots had played their parts.
"They had two wonderful managers before me and when I walked into the club on the first day, I said we had a very solid base.
"What I felt was needed was to change a few minor things and the players have adapted but like I said, my predecessors are also responsible for this."
Up next for Kewell and the Marinos are UAE's Al Ain, who stunned Al Hilal SFC to advance to the final.
"We are going to enjoy the final. We dont get many chances to play in finals and when you, you just go out and enjoy it."
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