JEDDAH - Al-Ahli has retained the Asian Champions League Elite title, defeating Japan's Machida Zelvia 1-0 in extra time. Feras Al-Brikan scored the decisive goal for the Saudi Pro League side at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.
Coach Matthias Jaissle's team becomes the second club to successfully defend the trophy in the competition's history. Al-Ahli played with ten men for over half an hour after Zakaria Hawsawi received a red card in the 68th minute.
Despite being a man down, Al-Ahli managed the match into an additional 30 minutes. Substitute Al-Brikan secured the victory with a close-range finish, marking back-to-back championship wins for the Jeddah-based club.
The match drew a crowd of nearly 59,000 fans to the stadium, which hosted the centralized eight-team finals tournament for the second consecutive season.
Machida's goalkeeper Kosei Tani made several key saves early in the match, denying efforts from Galeno and Ivan Toney. Al-Ahli defender Merih Demiral also struck the crossbar before halftime.
The turning point came when Hawsawi was sent off for headbutting an opponent. Machida seized the initiative, with goalkeeper Edouard Mendy making crucial saves to thwart Hiroyuki Mae and Yuki Soma.
In the crucial moments, Riyad Mahrez delivered a cross from the right, setting up Al-Brikan for the winning goal against a resolute Machida defense.