JEDDAH: Ten-man Al-Ahli retained the Asian Champions League Elite title on Saturday as Feras Al-Brikan’s extra-time strike earned the Saudi Pro League side a 1-0 win over Japan’s Machida Zelvia at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.

Matthias Jaissle’s side became only the second team to retain the trophy in the Asian Champions League era after cross-Jeddah rivals Al-Ittihad in 2005, having seen Zakaria Hawsawi sent off in the 68th minute.

Al-Ahli held out despite being outnumbered to take the match into an additional 30 minutes and substitute Al-Brikan struck from close range to give his team back-to-back titles.

The win came in front of the Al-Ahli fans with their Jeddah base hosting the centralised eight-team finals tournament for the second season in a row.

Al Ahli’s German coach Jaissle said that his side had to “suffer” in achieving the historic feat.

“We had opportunities to score but it became harder after Hawsawi was sent off for an unnecessary action,” Jais­sle said, according to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

“But we showed the right mentality and the players kept believing and that makes me so proud as a coach.

“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.”

A crowd of almost 59,000 turned out to see Machida keeper Kosei Tani throw himself to his right to keep out Galeno’s 13th-minute effort after Enzo Millot’s pass behind Hotaka Nakamura had split the Machida defence.

Daihachi Okamura’s follow-up clearance prevented Ivan Toney from netting the rebound. Merih Demiral’s close-range effort clipped the top of the crossbar with three minutes left in the half when Galeno’s in-swinging cross from the right caused concern in the backline, the Turkish defender falling back as he struck the ball.

Machida’s efforts to frustrate the champions paid off with 22 minutes remaining when Hawsawi needlessly reacted in a confrontation with Tete Yengi, headbutting the Australian in full view of referee Ilgiz Tantashev.

With the extra space following Hawsawi’s red card, the Japanese outfit started to take charge.

Edouard Mendy dived to his right to deny Hiroyuki Mae in the 73rd minute and eight min­utes later the former Che­lsea man saved a low, curling effort that was bound for the bottom corner from Yuki Soma.

Despite being a man down it was Al-Ahli who found their way through a miserly Mac­hida defence, Riyad Mahrez swinging a left-footed cross from the right towards the far post, where Franck Kessie laid the ball off for Al-Brikan to score.

Machida’s former high-school coach Go Kuroda said his team “faced a lot of mental pressure” after the heartbreaking defeat.

“It was a completely away environment for us,” said Kur­oda, whose side were making their debut in Asia’s top club competition and were in non-league just over a decade ago.

“The players faced a lot of mental pressure and they tried not to get overwhelmed,” he said. “We tried to come back but couldn’t. We were near, but yet still so far away.”

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2026