Qatar wins Asian Champions league football title
Qatar's Al Sadd won their first Asian Champions League title by stunning Jeonbuk Motors 4-2 on penalties following an enthralling 2-2 extra-time draw on Saturday.
Al Sadd goalkeeper Mohamed Saqr saved two penalties in the shootout with Nadir Belhadj scoring the winning kick to seal the $1.5-million first prize and a place at the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan next month.
Al Sadd were under pressure throughout the final at Jeonbuk's World Cup stadium but defended bravely and took two of their few chances to seal an unlikely triumph at the end of a campaign that began in the qualifiers in February.
Heavy favourites Jeonbuk, roared on by a passionate 41,805 home crowd, looked stronger at the start and deservedly took the lead through their Brazilian playmaker Eninho in the 17th minute.
The Brazilian was brought down on the edge of the area by Wesam Rizik but picked himself up to fire a sharp, curling, right-foot free kick into the corner of the net past a motionless Saqr.
The Koreans failed to build on their early lead and the Qataris went level 10 minutes later thanks to an own goal by defender Sim Woo-yeon.
The skillful Kader Keita clipped a right-footed cross towards goal and the ball flicked off the head of Sim and past Kim Min-sik who stayed on his line when he should probably have moved to clear it.
Jeonbuk took control of the game as Al Sadd sank back, happy to defend as the Koreans wasted a number of chances. They were punished when Keita scored a brilliant counter-attack goal for the visitors in the 61st minute.
Belhadj broke down the left and fed Ibrahim Khalfan whose cross was brilliantly controlled by Ivorian Keita who then managed to fire the bouncing ball low into the corner of Kim's goal.
The goal looked set to be the winner as Jeonbuk squandered more chances while Saqr mixed brilliant saves with horrendous errors. Then Jeonbuk substitute Lee Seung-hyun scored a 92nd-minute header to force extra time after the keeper had failed to clear a corner. — Reuters
Al Sadd goalkeeper Mohamed Saqr saved two penalties in the shootout with Nadir Belhadj scoring the winning kick to seal the $1.5-million first prize and a place at the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan next month.
Al Sadd were under pressure throughout the final at Jeonbuk's World Cup stadium but defended bravely and took two of their few chances to seal an unlikely triumph at the end of a campaign that began in the qualifiers in February.
Heavy favourites Jeonbuk, roared on by a passionate 41,805 home crowd, looked stronger at the start and deservedly took the lead through their Brazilian playmaker Eninho in the 17th minute.
The Brazilian was brought down on the edge of the area by Wesam Rizik but picked himself up to fire a sharp, curling, right-foot free kick into the corner of the net past a motionless Saqr.
The Koreans failed to build on their early lead and the Qataris went level 10 minutes later thanks to an own goal by defender Sim Woo-yeon.
The skillful Kader Keita clipped a right-footed cross towards goal and the ball flicked off the head of Sim and past Kim Min-sik who stayed on his line when he should probably have moved to clear it.
Jeonbuk took control of the game as Al Sadd sank back, happy to defend as the Koreans wasted a number of chances. They were punished when Keita scored a brilliant counter-attack goal for the visitors in the 61st minute.
Belhadj broke down the left and fed Ibrahim Khalfan whose cross was brilliantly controlled by Ivorian Keita who then managed to fire the bouncing ball low into the corner of Kim's goal.
The goal looked set to be the winner as Jeonbuk squandered more chances while Saqr mixed brilliant saves with horrendous errors. Then Jeonbuk substitute Lee Seung-hyun scored a 92nd-minute header to force extra time after the keeper had failed to clear a corner. — Reuters
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