Final officiated by Ilgiz Tantashev — winner decided in extra time
The decisive final match of the Asian Champions League Elite gave football fans unforgettable and exciting moments. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
In the match held on the green fields of Saudi Arabia, Al-Ahli and Japan's Machida competed for the main trophy. This match attracted attention not only for its result but also for the intense battle on the field.
The match was officiated by a refereeing team led by the experienced Uzbek referee Ilgiz Tantashev. During regulation time, both teams acted in an organized manner in defense and hardly gave their opponents any opportunity to score.
Due to the cautious and highly disciplined play, the score remained closed in regulation time, and the winner had to be determined in extra time. The fate of the match was decided in the early part of the extra periods.
In the 96th minute, Al-Ahli forward Al-Buraykan precisely hit the opponent's goal and put his team ahead. This goal ultimately remained the only one of the match and brought the Saudi club the championship title.
Although Machida's players tried with all their might to restore the balance, they could not break through the hosts' solid defense. Thus, Al-Ahli became the winner of the Asian Champions League Elite for the second consecutive year.
This success once again proved that the team is one of the strongest clubs on the continent. The final match took place at the expected high level.
The winning team featured such stars as Mendy, Demiral, Kessie and Mahrez, while the Japanese put up worthy resistance through their teamwork. According to one.uz, this victory will further strengthen the position of Saudi Arabian football in the region.
