Substitute Feras Al Brikan struck six minutes into extra time to earn 10-man Al Ahli Saudi a 1-0 win over Machida Zelvia last night as the Saudi Pro League side retained their title at the AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah.
Al Brikan hit the winner from close range after Matthias Jaissle’s side had seen Zakaria Hawsawi sent off in the 68th minute and the title holders were forced to battle on against the Japanese side.
Victory means Al Ahli are the first team to retain the title since cross-Jeddah rivals Al Ittihad Club won the second of their two AFC Champions League crowns in 2005 by defeating Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates.
Both coaches named unchanged line-ups from the semi-final wins and, with the bulk of the 58,984 crowd inside the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium behind them, it was Al Ahli who dominated the early exchanges.
Roger Ibanez launched a speculative effort from distance with 90 seconds on the clock that flew harmlessly wide of Kosei Tani’s right post as the home side signalled their intent while Galeno’s attempt moments later was also off target.
Machida managed to make it through that opening unscathed before, in the ninth minute, Hotaka Nakamura was given a sight of goal by the Al Ahli defence but his header from eight yards out looped into the hands of Edouard Mendy.
The J1 League side were cut apart soon after when Enzo Millot’s pass from deep released Galeno into space behind Nakamura only for the Brazilian’s shot to be kept out as Tani dived to his left. Daihachi Okamura then cleared to prevent Ivan Toney slotting in the rebound.
With three minutes left in the first half, Galeno’s in-swinging cross from the left caused panic in the Machida defence with Valentin Atangana’s miskick falling to Merih Demiral but the defender’s effort clipped the top of the crossbar.
Al Ahli dominated the opening exchanges of the second half but, despite monopolising possession, the champions were unable to force their way through Machida’s well-organised and disciplined defence.
Toney shinned the ball wide in the 66th minute but two minutes later Hawsawi succumbed to a moment of madness, headbutting Tete Yengi in full view of the referee to leave Ilgiz Tantashev with no option but to show the red card.
With the man advantage, Machida started to impose themselves in the Al Ahli half. Hiroyuki Mae unleashed a shot from 25 yards in the 73rd minute that needed Edouard Mendy to palm the ball to safety.
Mendy then kept out Yuki Soma’s curling effort with Yengi blocking Mae’s follow-up strike from outside the area as Machida continued to press but to no avail as the match went into extra time.
Six minutes into the additional 30, the winner finally arrived. Riyad Mahrez cut in from the right to clip the ball towards the far post and Kessie’s layoff was thumped home first time by Saudi international Al Brikan to the delight of the home fans.
Henry Mochizuki almost levelled when he met Soma’s cross from the right with a downward header but Machida were to end the game frustrated and empty handed as Al Ahli prevailed once again.
