Al Ahli won the Asian Champions League for the first time in their history after beating Kawasaki Frontale in the final in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
Goals from Brazilian winger Galeno and former Barcelona midfielder Franck Kessie secured a 2-0 win in front of more than 58,000 fans at Al Ahli’s home stadium, King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.
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Former Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino assisted both goals, first setting up Galeno to a curl in the opener from distance before crossing for Kessie to head home his side’s second just before half time.
Firmino, who moved to the Saudi Pro League club in the summer of 2023, was named man of the match and the tournament’s MVP.
The winner of the ACL, whose latter stages were played in Jeddah in this edition, qualifies for both the FIFA Intercontinental Cup and the next FIFA Club World Cup.
🏆 𝐂 𝐇 𝐀 𝐌 𝐏 𝐈 𝐎 𝐍 𝐒 🏆
Dream chasers. History makers.
🇸🇦 Al Ahli are the kings of Asia for the first-time ever!#ACLElite | #ACLEliteFinal pic.twitter.com/OIEuxzLOqD
— #ACLElite | #ACLTwo (@TheAFCCL) May 3, 2025
Al Ahli had never previously won the tournament, the premier club competition in Asian football, having been runners-up in 1986 and 2012. They become the third Saudi club to do so after after Al Hilal and Al Ittihad.
Japanese club Kawasaki were competing in a first ACL final in their history having knocked Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr out in the semi-finals.
Firmino was joined by former Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez and Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy in the Al Ahli side. All three had previously won the UEFA Champions League during their time in England.
Ivan Toney, who joined Al Ahli from Brentford in August, also started the game. He has scored 26 goals — including six in the ACL — in his first season in Saudi.
“We are so proud,” Mendy said in quotes reported by Associated Press. “Once we knew that the final eight would be in Jeddah, it was our goal to be champions in front of our fans.
“Since I came here 18 months ago, they have supported us so much. As I said when I signed, it was to make history, to win trophies and to make this club as big as it was before.”
Al Ahli are fifth in the Saudi Pro League, 10 points behind leaders Al Ittihad.
They were one of four clubs taken over by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) in June 2023 alongside Al Nassr, Al Ittihad and Al Hilal.
(Photo of Roberto Firmino lifting the trophy: Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)
This news was originally published on this post .
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