Asian Glory for Al-Ahli with Champions League triumph

JEDDAH: Al-Ahli are the champions of Asia for the first time after a 2-0 victory over Kawasaki Frontale in Jeddah on Saturday.
It was a deserved win in front of 60,000 ecstatic fans at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium as the green giants join local rivals Al-Ittihad as well as Al-Hilal in that exclusive club –Saudi Arabian champions of Asia.
First half goals from Galeno, a beauty, and Franck Kessie did the damage and once Al-Ahli were ahead, they never looked like letting the trophy slip after being runners-up in 1986 and 2012.

Al-Ahli are crowned 2024/25 AFC Champions League winners pic.twitter.com/idKdmG4eEa

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Roared on by the home fans who produced another stunning exhibition of tifos before kick-off and did not let the energy levels drop, the home team starting brightly. Ivan Toney turned smartly on the right corner of the penalty area in the fifth minute, and the England striker’s strong shot forced a flying save from Louis-Thebault Yamaguchi. Moments later, it was Ziyad Al-Johani in the air on the edge of the six-yard box and his shot was also blocked by the ‘keeper.
It was not all one-way traffic, and Marcinho’s shot from the left went just wide of the opposite post. It seemed to spur Al-Ahli on however and they kept pushing forward. Toney, Ibanez and Galeno all had shots though not enough to trouble the goalkeeper too much.
Al-Ahli were on top but just when it started to look like it could be a frustrating evening, Galeno produced a moment of magic. Receiving the ball from Roberto Firmino outside the area, the Brazilian winger, was given a little too much time and space but even so, few expected the outcome –a perfect shot curled into the top corner to