Al-Ahli down Kawasaki Frontale to lift Asian Champions League title

JEDDAH :Saudi Arabia's Al-Ahli beat Japan's Kawasaki Frontale 2-0 to win the Asian Champions League Elite title for the first time at a raucous King Abdullah Sports City Stadium on Saturday.

Brazil winger Galeno broke Kawasaki's resistance in the 35th minute when he bent an unstoppable strike into the top corner to send the home side on the way to their first Asian title, with Franck Kessie heading in the second seven minutes later.

The victory makes Al-Ahli the third Saudi club to win the competition in its various guises, joining city rivals and twice winners Al-Ittihad and Riyadh's four-times champions Al-Hilal.

"We are so proud," said Al-Ahli goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. "Once we knew the final eight would be played in Jeddah it was our goal to be champions in front of our fans. Since I came here 18 months ago they have supported us so much.

"As I said when I signed here, it's to make history, to continue to win trophies and make this club as big as it was before."

Al-Ahli were heavy favourites with a lineup featuring an expensively acquired array of foreign talent that includes UEFA Champions League winners Riyad Mahrez and Roberto Firmino.

Twice inside the opening six minutes Louis Yamaguchi denied the home side, the Kawasaki goalkeeper blocking Ivan Toney's viciously struck right-foot effort before making a point-blank block at the resulting corner from Ziyad Al-Johani.

The Japanese outfit almost silenced the crowd in the 11th minute with a moment of individual skill from Marcinho, the Brazilian gliding beyond Ali Majrashi to bear down on goal only to shoot across the area and past the far post.

Toney fired wide and Roger Ibanez was just off target with a curling effort from the edge of the area as Al-Ahli increased the