Action during the semi-final between Machida Zelvia and Shabab Al Ahli in Jeddah yesterday. PIC: AFC
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: Tournament debutants Machida Zelvia secured a place in a first Asian Champions League (Elite) final following a controversial 1-0 victory against UAE side Shabab Al Ahli in Jeddah yesterday.
The Japanese team, who until this season had never appeared in the continent’s premier club competition, triumphed in front of a sparse crowd at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium thanks to Yuki Soma’s early goal.
However, Shabab Al Ahli were denied an injury-time equaliser when Guilherme Bala’s brilliant solo run and finish was ruled out because the Emiratis had restarted play before a Machida substitution was complete.
Machida will now face defending champions Al Ahli, of Saudi Arabia, in Saturday’s final at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium. They are attempting to become the ninth continental champions from Japan.
A place in the showpiece marks another notable milestone in the career of manager Go Kuroda, who had spent 28 years coaching a high-school football team before being given the Machida reins in 2023.
In his first season, Kuroda guided the club to promotion from the J2 League, before sealing a third-placed finish in the top tier to qualify for the Asian Champions League.
In contrast, Shabab Al Ahli are managed by former Portugal international Paulo Sousa, who won the UEFA Champions League with Borussia Dortmund in 1997.
Machida were given a perfect start when, on 12 minutes, Soma pounced on a mistake by Serbian defender Bogdan Planic to round Shabab Al Ahli goalkeeper Hamad Al Meqbaali and slot home.
Runners-up in 2015, Shabab Al Ahli pushed for an equaliser against Machida late in the first half, Brazilian defender Kauan Santos curling a brilliant effort from the edge of the penalty area that crashed off the crossbar.
Five minutes before half-time, Machida were awarded a penalty when Shabab Al Ahli captain Federico Cartabia was adjudged to have felled Soma in the box. However, the decision was overturned by VAR.
Just after the hour, Bala had a first equaliser ruled out for offside. Moments later, Shabab Al Ahli substitute Mohammed Juma somehow missed the target from four yards out.
The match ended in controversy, with Sousa storming down the tunnel before injury time had finished, while Al Meqbaali was sent off for remonstrating with the referee after the final whistle.
For the second year running, Jeddah is staging the eight-team centralised finals series of the competition, rebranded last year as the Asian Champions League Elite
