Jeddah erupted in celebration as Al-Ahli secured their first-ever AFC Champions League title with a decisive 2-0 victory over Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale on Saturday. In front of 60,000 fervent supporters at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium, the Saudi Arabian giants joined domestic rivals Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal as champions of Asia.
First-half goals from Galeno, a stunning strike, and Franck Kessie proved decisive. Once ahead, Al-Ahli displayed unwavering control, ensuring the trophy would not slip from their grasp after previous final defeats in 1986 and 2012.
Fueled by a spectacular pre-match tifo display and relentless vocal support, Al-Ahli started strongly. Ivan Toney’s sharp turn and shot in the fifth minute forced a save from Louis-Thebault Yamaguchi, followed shortly by Ziyad Al-Johani’s blocked header.
While Kawasaki’s Marcinho threatened with a shot just wide, Al-Ahli maintained pressure. The breakthrough arrived when Galeno, receiving a pass from Roberto Firmino, unleashed a magnificent curling shot into the top corner from outside the box.
Before Kawasaki could regroup, Al-Ahli struck again. Firmino’s cross from the right found Kessie, who headed home from close range.
Kawasaki’s best opportunity came just before the hour mark, with Sai van Wermeskerken heading wide at the far post. Al-Ahli then adopted a more counter-attacking approach. Riyad Mahrez, the tournament’s leading scorer with nine goals, shot narrowly wide. Tatsuya Ito posed the main threat for Kawasaki, firing just wide twice in the final 15 minutes.
Ultimately, Al-Ahli delivered a professional performance, comfortably seeing out their two-goal advantage to claim a deserved victory and the Asian crown as the only undefeated team in the competition. The celebrations in Jeddah were emphatic, signaling Al-Ahli’s arrival as the new kings of Asian football.
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