JEDDAH: Al Ahli had to &quot;suffer&quot; in becoming the first club in more than two decades to win back-to-back Asian Champions League titles, their relieved coach said. The Saudi side, playing at home in Jeddah, had a man sent off before overcoming Japan&#39;s stubborn Machida Zelvia 1-0 in extra time on Saturday. The defending champions retained the trophy thanks to substitute Feras Al Buraikan&#39;s 96th-minute goal in front of 58,984 at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium. Al Ahli had been reduced to 10 men midway through the second half when defender Zakaria Hawsawi was shown a straight red card for violent conduct for a headbutt. &quot;We had opportunities to score but it became harder after Hawsawi was sent off for an unnecessary action,&quot; their German coach Matthias Jaissle said, according to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). &quot;But we showed the right mentality and the players kept believing and that makes me so proud as a coach. &quot;We talked about it at the break that with a man down we had to suffer more and work harder. However, we have quality players who can make one moment count.&quot; Jaissle admitted that playing as hosts in front of a home crowd roaring them on had been significant. The AFC put the latter rounds of Asia&#39;s top club competition in Jeddah, handing Jeddah-based Al Ahli a clear advantage. &quot;Obviously a part of it (winning) was because we played here in Jeddah in front of our fans who pushed us and gave us extra energy,&quot; he said. &quot;To win it back-to-back is something historic. &quot;Feels a bit weird. My tank is a bit empty. So much relief because the pressure was on. &quot;It will take a couple of days for this to sink in.&quot;

Al-Ahli's German coach Matthias Jaissle reacts as he celebrates with his team after they beat Machida Zelvia 1-0 to win the final of the AFC Champions League football match between Al-Ahli Saudi FC and FC Machida Zelvia at the King Abdullah Sports City, i

Football

Al Ahli overcame a red card and Japan’s Machida Zelvia 1-0 in extra time to win a second straight Asian Champions League title, with Feras Al Buraikan scoring decisive goal.

Al Ahli made to 'suffer' in winning Asian Champions League: Coach

Reuters

JEDDAH: Defending champions Al-Ahli fought back from two goals down to secure a 4-2 win over Uzbekistan&#39;s Nasaf in the Asian Champions League Elite in Jeddah on Monday thanks to stoppage-time goals from Riyad Mahrez and Mohammed Sulaiman for the Saudi side. Husain Norchaev scored twice to give Nasaf a two-goal lead at halftime but Al-Ahli&#39;s recent signing Enzo Millot struck twice in three second-half minutes to pull Matthias Jaissle&#39;s side level. The Frenchman punished a mistake by goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov in the 65th minute to slot into an empty goal from distance and capitalised on hesitant defending to quickly score again. Mahrez slotted home four minutes into added time and Sulaiman scored from close range 11 minutes later with Nasaf down to 10 men following Alibek Davronov&#39;s late sending-off. &quot;Everybody had to give 100% in the second half, we had to do more and attack the box to score goals and we did it,&quot; said Millot, who joined Al-Ahli from Stuttgart. Al-Ittihad lose to Al-WahdaThe win earned Al-Ahli an opening three points in the western league phase, in which the 12 teams play eight matches and the top eight finishers will advance to March&#39;s knockout rounds. Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad slipped to a 2-1 defeat by Al-Wahda from the United Arab Emirates with defender Lucas Pimenta scoring the winner deep into added time. Steven Berwijn had given Laurent Blanc&#39;s side the lead with a powerfully hit swerving strike from distance in the 21st minute but Muhannad Al-Shanqiti&#39;s sending-off for a reckless challenge on Facundo Kruspzky changed the game. Caio Canedo levelled from close range in the 62nd minute and, deep into added time, Pimenta pounced after Pedrag Rajkovic blocked Ala Zouhir&#39;s header. Stoppage-time goals Sharjah of the UAE also picked up a win with two stoppage-time goals against 10-man Al-Gharafa earning a 4-3 victory for last season&#39;s Asian Champions League Two winners. First-half goals from Yacine Brahimi and Joselu put the visiting Qataris in control before Rey Manaj and Ousmane Camara struck around the hour mark to level. Joselu restored Al-Gharafa&#39;s lead but an 86th-minute red card for goalkeeper Khalifa Ababacar swung the game in Sharjah&#39;s favour, Manaj slamming in a free kick and Igor Coronado sliding home a 100th-minute winner. Qatar&#39;s Al-Sadd fought back to draw 1-1 with Iraq&#39;s Al-Shorta in Baghdad, Hassan Al-Haydos scoring in the 62nd minute to cancel out Dominique Mendy&#39;s deflected 28th-minute opener for the hosts.

Defending champions Al-Ahli fought back from two goals down to secure a 4-2 win over Uzbekistan's Nasaf in the Asian Champions League Elite in Jeddah on Monday thanks to stoppage-time goals from Riyad Mahrez and Mohammed Sulaiman for the Saudi side.

Articles tagged with "Asian Champions League"

Al Ahli made to 'suffer' in winning Asian Champions League: Coach

Late goals earn Al-Ahli opening victory in Asian Champions League

Al Ahli made to 'suffer' in winning Asian Champions League: Coach