Ivan Toney Adds Another Trophy with Al-Ahli's AFC Champions League Win
Al-Ahli Defend Their Crown in Heated Final
Ivan Toney has added another prestigious piece of silverware to his collection as Al-Ahli successfully defended their AFC Champions League Elite crown. The Saudi giants overcame Japanese debutants Machida Zelvia in a gruelling, ill-tempered final that required extra time to find a winner.
A Physical and Disciplinary Encounter
The match was defined by its physical nature and disciplinary issues, as the Saudi side played with ten men for nearly an hour. In a match defined more by aggression than clinical finishing, it took 120 minutes to separate the two sides in front of 60,000 expectant fans.
- The match saw two red cards dished out.
- Al-Ahli played with ten men for nearly an hour.
- Firas Al-Burikan scored the winning goal in the sixth minute of extra time.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the sixth minute of extra time when Firas Al-Burikan found the net from close range. The striker was perfectly placed to fire high into the goal after some excellent build-up play from former Barcelona and AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie.
History Made by Al-Ahli
The victory ensures Al-Ahli become the first team to successfully defend the Asian crown since their local rivals Al-Ittihad achieved the feat back in 2005.
