Not only is the 34-year-old shot-stopper playing in his third continental decider, he is also aiming to keep his one hundred percent record alive to become the first player to win three AFC Champions League titles since the competition was revamped in 2003.

In fact, were it not for having to perform his mandatory military service in 2011 and 2012, which saw him join military side Sangju Sangmu Phoenix on loan from Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, this would be his fourth continental decider after Jeonbuk also made the final in 2011.

Coming back from two goals down in a semi-final is an impressive feat in itself, but doing so twice over two legs, as Japan's Kashima did against Korea Republic's Suwon Samsung Bluewings, requires an impressive degree of mental resilience and self-belief - a quality needed at the highest level of the Continental game.

And, indeed, it is this quality that Japan international Doi insists has helped a battle-hardened Kashima side reach their maiden AFC Champions League final.

Ahead of the first of two meetings between the best clubs in the East and West of the continent, the-AFC.com kicks off our build-up to the final with a look at some of the key Kashima players, who could be the ones to watch at Kashima Soccer Stadium on November 3.

Ahead of the first of two meetings between the best clubs in the East and West of the continent, the-AFC.com kicks off our build-up to the final with a look at some of the key Persepolis players, who could be the ones to watch at Kashima Soccer Stadium on November 3.

The match swung one way then the other and then back again, before Serginho struck late on to send the Japanese side into their maiden continental showpiece.

Kashima took a 1-0 lead on the night to leave them 4-2 ahead on aggregate, but after conceding three goals in nine second half minutes it looked as though they were heading for a dramatic exit from the competition.

The 23-year-old revealed that the players staged a get-together after falling behind though, stressing the need to keep their heads and not let Suwon’s growing momentum knock them off course.

“We were all saying that we needed to calm down and regain our composure,” he said of the exchange. “We knew if we could pull level (on aggregate) then we’d be back in with a chance, and I’m delighted we were able to do that.”

As the final whistle went at the Azadi Stadium, Iraqi midfielder Bashar Resan broke into tears, overwhelmed by a huge result that came just days after his mother had passed away.

Resan had been on international duty with Iraq in the past week when he received the news about the bereavement.