JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — In a triumphant display, Al-Ahli clinched its inaugural AFC Champions League Elite title, defeating Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale 2-0 in the concluding match on Saturday.
The victory unfolded at Jeddah’s King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, where a capacity crowd of 60,000 cheered on the home team. Al-Ahli, showcasing a lineup of prominent players, emerged victorious in a manner that underscored their dominance throughout the tournament, which they completed without a single defeat.
Galeno and Franck Kessie, both scoring in the first half, gave Al-Ahli the upper hand against the Japanese side, a five-time champion in their own league. The tournament’s decisive stages, including the quarterfinals, semifinals, and final, were all hosted in Jeddah, where Al-Ahli thrived under the enthusiastic support of their home crowd.
The hosts marked their superiority early on, securing their first goal 35 minutes in when Roberto Firmino set up Galeno. The Brazilian, who transferred from Porto in January for an estimated $55 million, unleashed a stunning shot from outside the box, curving into the top corner of the net.
Shortly before halftime, Firmino again played a crucial role, delivering a cross from the right to Kessie. The midfielder, previously with AC Milan and Barcelona, found the back of the net with a close-range header. Firmino’s efforts throughout the tournament earned him the Most Valuable Player accolade.
Kawasaki, having eliminated Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr in the semifinals to reach their first tournament final, exerted pressure after halftime but found it challenging to breach the defenses of Al-Ahli’s seasoned squad.
Firmino, along with teammates Riyad Mahrez and Edouard Mendy, brought a wealth of experience to the team, each having claimed the UEFA Champions League title with Liverpool, Manchester City, and Chelsea respectively.
Mahrez, who netted nine goals during the tournament, came close to scoring a third goal late in the final, narrowly missing the target.
While the match drew to a close, the home supporters were already in a celebratory mood. “Our pride is immense. Knowing the final stages would be held in Jeddah, we set our sights on lifting the trophy in front of our loyal fans,” remarked Al-Ahli’s goalkeeper Mendy.
Reflecting on his move 18 months ago, Mendy added, “Since arriving, the fan support has been overwhelming. My goal was to create history, secure titles, and restore the club to its once-great status.” Al-Ahli’s triumph marks them as the third Saudi club to achieve Champions League glory, following the paths of Jeddah rival Al-Ittihad and Riyadh’s Al-Hilal.