Evergrande claim second AFC Champions title
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E-mail CNTV, November 22, 2015
It was a big night in Asian football as the Tianhe Stadium was the setting for the final the 2015 AFC Champions League Final between hosts Guangzhou Evergrande of China and Al Ahli of the United Arab Emirates. Guangzhou, led by former World Cup winning coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, had held Al Ahli to a goalless draw in the first leg in Dubai and were looking to claim their second continental title in three years.
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Players of Guangzhou Evergrande celebrate during the awarding ceremony of the AFC Champions League final match between Guangzhou Evergrande and Al Ahli of United Arab Emirates in Guangzhou, China, Nov. 21, 2015. Guangzhou Evergrande won 1-0 and claimed the title. [Xinhua] |
After making history two years ago by becoming the first Chinese club to win Asia's top club competition, Guangzhou are back in the final once again and hope to present a gift to fans who had been disappointed by their national team's poor performance in 2018 World Cup qualifying.
Evergrande almost take the lead just seven minutes into the game when Elkeson beats the defenders on the left side of the box before passing to Ricardo Goulart whose just misses the target. He tries to squeeze it inside the post, but the keeper was there.
Al Ahli hit back in the 27th minute with an attack down the left wing. Playmaker Ribeiro's powerful shot is denied by Evergrande's Zeng Cheng.
But the home team is dealt a heavy blow as Zeng limps off in the 39th minute with an ankle injury, and substitute keeper Li Shuai comes on. Zeng lands awkwardly on another player's foot.
Evergrande dominate the match after the interval and break the deadlock in the 54th minute. Elkeson makes a brilliant move with Zheng Long's pass then pokes it home in the far corner. Guangzhou lead 1-0 on a fantastic goal. He flicks a clever back heel through the defenders through the defenders legs then has the pace for the final touch.
Things get worse for Al Ahli as their central defender Salmin Khamis Salmin is sent off for an awful tackle on Zheng in the 66th minute, plus a stomp for good measure. He reacts by kicking the ball away and then pushing the fourth official.
Al Ahli would not find the net on this night so that means Elkeson's second-half goal is enough for Guangzhou to be crowned the new kings of Asia.
The AFC Champions League title is also the first continental trophy for Scolari since he guided Brazil to the Confederations Cup in 2013 on home soil. The 67-year-old Brazilian joins Italian Marcello Lippi, the former Guangzhou coach, as those who have won a World Cup and an AFC Champions League title.
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