Saudi gold, Japanese sorrow: Firmino's masterclass silences wallets | OneFootball

Al-Ahli Crowned AFC Champions League Elite Winners with Clinical Display

Saudi Giants Defeat Kawasaki Frontale 2-0 in Jeddah Final

Al-Ahli Jeddah captured their first AFC Champions League Elite title with a commanding 2-0 victory over Kawasaki Frontale at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium on Saturday.

Matthias Jaissle's side became the third Saudi club to lift the continental trophy, capitalizing on clinical finishing and defensive solidity to overcome their Japanese opponents in front of a passionate home crowd.

First-Half Double Secures Trophy

The hosts struck twice in a decisive seven-minute spell before halftime. Winter signing Wenderson Galeno opened the scoring in the 35th minute, finishing expertly after Roberto Firmino's creative setup. Franck Kessié doubled the advantage in the 42nd minute, again benefiting from Firmino's vision.

The second goal came at a pivotal moment, just as Kawasaki's left-back Sota Miura was forced off with a knee injury following a challenge with Firmino. The Japanese side was temporarily reduced to ten men during the transition, and Al-Ahli capitalized immediately.

Contrasting Approaches

Despite Kawasaki holding 52% possession, the statistics told the story of Al-Ahli's efficiency. The Saudi side registered 17 shots with seven on target, while Kawasaki failed to test Edouard Mendy with any of their seven attempts.

"I'm really proud to be the coach of this team, with these fans," Jaissle said post-match. "The atmosphere has always been amazing and today it was even better. Everyone put their maximum on the pitch to finalize our dream."

Kawasaki manager Shigetoshi Hasebe had highlighted the financial disparity between the clubs before the match, noting Al-Ahli's market value was approximately ten times that of his team. "Players don't play with wallets," he had insisted, but the gap in quality ultimately proved decisive.

Firmino Masterclass

Roberto Firmino delivered a captain's performance, creating both goals among his three key passes. The Brazilian orchestrated Al-Ahli's attack with composure and vision, earning an 8.2 match rating.

Defender Roger Ibañez was equally impressive at the back, winning 9 of 14 duels and making three crucial tackles to help preserve the clean sheet. Ali Majrashi contributed significantly with seven tackles and three interceptions.

For Kawasaki, captain Yasuto Wakizaka (7.3) showed glimpses of quality but couldn't inspire a breakthrough against Al-Ahli's disciplined defense. The Japanese side had impressed on their journey to the final, notably defeating Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr in the semifinals, but couldn't replicate that form when it mattered most.

New Format, Same Saudi Dominance

The tournament marked the debut of the AFC Champions League Elite format, with the knockout stages centralized in Jeddah. Al-Ahli took full advantage, following their 3-1 semifinal victory over domestic rivals Al-Hilal with another convincing display.

The match was played in challenging conditions exceeding 30°C, with Kawasaki having one day less recovery time following their semifinal exertions.