Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia successfully defended the AFC Champions League Elite crown after beating first-time finalist Machida Zelvia of Japan 1-0 on Saturday.
The defending champions, who 12 months ago defeated Kawasaki Frontale to claim a first continental crown, retained the trophy thanks to substitute Feras Al Buraikan’s 96th-minute finish in front of 58,984 people at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium – the Saudi Arabians’ home ground.
Al Ahli had been reduced to 10 men midway through the second half when defender Zakaria Hawsawi was shown a straight red for violent conduct.
Al Buraikan’s goal ensured Al Ahli are the first team to successfully defend Asia’s premier club trophy since city rivals Al Ittihad in 2005.
The win sees the Saudi Pro League side qualify for both the Fifa Intercontinental Cup later this year and the 2029 Fifa Club World Cup, the second edition of the expanded competition won last summer by English Premier League side Chelsea.
For the second year running, Jeddah staged the eight-team centralised finals series of the competition, rebranded last year as the Asian Champions League Elite.
Al Ahli nearly took the lead against tournament debutants Machida on 13 minutes, when Galeno, the standout player of the knockout stages, raced free of the Japanese defence….
