Jeddah – Saudi Arabian club Al Ahli beat Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale 2-0 in the final to win the inaugural Asian Champions League Elite on Saturday.
Galeno’s 35th-minute wonder strike and Franck Kessie’s header seven minutes later proved enough for the high-priced Al Ahli side, strongly backed by 60,000 fans at their home King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah which hosted the final.
Kawasaki came into the final after knocking out Al Sadd of Qatar 3-2 in extra time in the quarterfinals last Sunday before stunning star-studded Saudi Arabia side Al Nassr, featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, 3-2 in the semifinals on Wednesday.
The J-League side fell at the last hurdle but produced memorable performances at the centralized eight-team finals tournament, where they were handed the toughest schedule of any team with two-day turnarounds after a long journey.
“I’ve inherited the team from (predecessor Toru) Oniki and we’ve done well to get here, but I’m filled with frustration after not fulfilling my role,” new Kawasaki manager Shigetoshi Hasebe said.
“I don’t know by how much, but I believe there were things we were lacking and we have to look back on those to elevate ourselves. We’re really thankful to our fans who came all the way and cheered their hearts out. We wanted to pay them back.”
Former England forward Ivan Toney fired an early warning shot with a powerful drive to test Louis Yamaguchi before Ziyad Al Johani, one of two Saudi Arabian players to start for Al Ahli, had a close-range effort denied by the Kawasaki keeper off a corner.
Goalkeeper Louis Yamaguchi (98) from Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale concedes a goal in the first half of the AFC Champions League Elite final against Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahli in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on May 3, 2025.
Frontale winger Marcinho nutmegged Ali Majrashi down the left and forced a crucial fingertip save from former Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy in the 11th minute at the other end and the match was finely poised until Brazilian Galeno curled in a stunner into the top right corner from 20 meters out.
Kawasaki soon went a man down temporarily with left-back Sota Miura, who had kept Riyad Mahrez quiet until that point, receiving treatment by the touchline, allowing an opening to a clinical Al Ahli.
Roberto Firmino, previously at Liverpool, found himself unmarked down that side and delivered an accurate cross for former Milan and Barcelona midfielder Kessie, who rose to nod home and double the lead.
Kawasaki had chances in the second half, first through defender Sai van Wermeskerken’s 57th-minute header at the far post. Fellow substitute Tatsuya Ito followed with two crisp strikes inside the last 15 minutes but both narrowly went wide and there was no breakthrough coming their way.
“I felt nothing beats individual quality,” said Kawasaki’s 20-year-old Japan defender Kota Takai, who starred against Al Nassr. “I think today’s performance is where I really am at the moment. We just lacked the ability and will try again to go higher.”
Players of Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale are pictured after losing to Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli in the AFC Champions League Elite final in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on May 3, 2025.
“I was relaxed mentally and there weren’t many moments I was beaten, but I need to pay more attention to details when facing wonderful, top-quality players.”
Kawasaki were looking to become the fourth Japanese club to be crowned the Asian champions this century after Urawa Reds, Gamba Osaka and Kashima Antlers won the tournament under its previous edition, the Asian Champions League.
Saudi Arabia will also host next season’s finals and has also been provisionally confirmed as host for the three following seasons through 2028-2029 by the Asian Football Confederation.
