On Saturday, the Emirati crew gained the AFC Champions League title after succeeding in inflicting a heavy defeat in opposition to Japan’s Yokohama Marinos (5-1) within the second leg of the ultimate spherical of the Al Ain event.
Al Ain, led by Argentine coach Hernán Crespo, compensated for the loss within the first leg (1-2), thus successful the second title in historical past after the 2003 version.
Al Ain opened the match on the Hajja bin Zayed Stadium with two targets in fast succession via Moroccan Sofiane Rahimi (eighth minute) and Kakour penalty kick (thirty third minute), earlier than the Japanese aspect managed to shut the hole via January. Mathews (fortieth minute).
The turning level within the match was when Yokohama goalkeeper William Pope was despatched off for obstructing Rahimi in first-half stoppage time after he was alone within the objective.
Within the second half, Al Ain swept the match with three targets via Sufian Rahimi (67′) and Laba Kodjo Fodoh (90+1, 90+5).
With the title, Al Ain joined Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal, Japan’s Urawa Crimson Diamonds and South Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai to ebook the fourth and remaining berth for the 2025 Membership World Cup in its expanded format for the Asian continent.
