On Saturday, the Emirati team Al Ain won the AFC Champions League title after succeeding in inflicting a heavy defeat against Japan’s Yokohama Marinos (5-1) in the second leg of the final round of the tournament.
Al Ain, led by Argentine coach Hernan Crespo, compensated for its loss in the first leg (1-2), thus achieving the second title in its history after the 2003 edition.
Al Ain started the match, which took place at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, by scoring two consecutive goals through Moroccan Sofiane Rahimi (8th minute) and Kaku via a penalty kick (33rd minute), before the Japanese team succeeded in reducing the difference through Jan Matthaus (40th minute).
The turning point in the match was the moment Yokohama goalkeeper William Pope was sent off in stoppage time of the first half for obstructing Rahimi after he was alone in the goal.
In the second half, Al Ain swept the match by scoring three goals through Sufyan Rahimi (67′) and Laba Kodjo Fodoh (90+1, 90+5).
With this title, Al Ain has reserved the fourth and final seat for the Asian continent in the 2025 Club World Cup in its expanded format, joining Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia, Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan and Ulsan Hyundai of South Korea.
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