Al-Ain, from the United Arab Emirates, coached by Argentine Hernán Crespo, won the Asian Champions League by beating Yokohama Marinos from Japan 5-1 this Saturday (25), in the second leg of the final.
In the first leg, the Japanese team had won 2-1, but Al-Ain managed to reverse the result with a rout at home to win the Asian Champions League for the second time, after the 2003 title.
Moroccan Soufiane Rahimi (8′ and 67′), Argentine-born Paraguayan Alejandro Romero (33′ penalty) and Togolese Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba (90’+1 and 90’+5) scored Al- Still in the match, while Yokohama Marinos scored with Brazilian Yan Matheus (40′), ex-Palmeiras.
Champions of #ACL ⭐️⭐️#alainclub @alainfcae pic.twitter.com/7svV5Imm3D
— Al Ain FC (@alainfcae_en) May 25, 2024
The Japanese team played the entire second half with one player less, due to the expulsion of goalkeeper William Popp shortly before the break (45’+10).
Hernán Crespo, who spent eight months at São Paulo in 2021, arrived at Al-Ain in November last year.
With the Asian Champions League title, Al-Ain secured a place in the new FIFA Club World Cup, the first edition of which will be played in the United States next year.
Source: Gazetaesportiva
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