Al Ahli made to 'suffer' in winning Asian Champions League: coach

TL;DR

Al Ahli won back-to-back Asian Champions League titles after defeating Machida Zelvia 1-0 in extra time, despite playing with 10 men. Coach Matthias Jaissle praised the team's mentality and the support from the home crowd in Jeddah.

Key points

Al Ahli won back-to-back Asian Champions League titles.
They defeated Machida Zelvia 1-0 in extra time.
Feras Al Buraikan scored the winning goal.
Al Ahli played with 10 men after a red card.
The match took place in Jeddah with significant home support.

Mentioned in this story

JeddahMatthias Jaissle

Al AhliMachida ZelviaAsian Champions LeagueFeras Al Buraikan

FC Machida Zelvia's Japanese defender Hotaka Nakamura (L) fights for the ball with Al Ahli's Brazilian forward Galeno (Abdel Ghani BASHIR) (Abdel Ghani BASHIR/AFP/AFP) Al Ahli had to "suffer" in becoming the first club in more than two decades to win back-to-back Asian Champions League titles, their relieved coach said. The Saudi side, playing at home in Jeddah, had a man sent off before overcoming Japan's stubborn Machida Zelvia 1-0 in extra time on Saturday. The defending champions retained the trophy thanks to substitute Feras Al Buraikan's 96th-minute goal in front of 58,984 at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium. Al Ahli had been reduced to 10 men midway through the second half when defender Zakaria Hawsawi was shown a straight red card for violent conduct for a headbutt. "We had opportunities to score but it became harder after Hawsawi was sent off for an unnecessary action," their German coach Matthias Jaissle said, according to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). "But we showed the right mentality and the players kept believing and that makes me so proud as a coach. "We talked about it at the break that with a man down we had to suffer more and work harder. However, we have quality players who can make one moment count." Jaissle admitted that playing as hosts in front of a home crowd roaring them on had been significant. The AFC put the latter rounds of Asia's top club competition in Jeddah, handing Jeddah-based Al Ahli a clear advantage. "Obviously a part of it (winning) was because we played here in Jeddah in front of our fans who pushed us and gave us extra energy," he said. "To win it back to back is something historic. "Feels a bit weird. My tank is a bit empty. So much relief because the pressure was on. "It will take a couple of days for this to sink in." bur-pst/mtp

Q&A

How did Al Ahli win the Asian Champions League final against Machida Zelvia?

Al Ahli won the final 1-0 in extra time, with Feras Al Buraikan scoring the decisive goal despite the team being reduced to 10 men.

What impact did the red card have on Al Ahli's performance in the final?

The red card for defender Zakaria Hawsawi made it harder for Al Ahli, but they maintained their composure and belief to secure the victory.

Why is Al Ahli's back-to-back win in the Asian Champions League significant?

Al Ahli became the first club in over two decades to win consecutive Asian Champions League titles, marking a historic achievement for the team.