Old stagers vs precocious newcomers. AFC Champions League history will be made this weekend
April 24 – Three years ago FC Machida Zelvia were playing in Japan’s second tier. Saturday night in Jeddah they will play the final of the biggest club competition in Asia, the AFC Champions League Elite, against one of Asia’s most storied team, Al Ahli Saudi.
It is a remarkable journey for Machida and their coach Go Kuroda, who face an Al Ahli side who are rewriting their own history and on the brink of equalling an Asian club competition record themselves in their home town Jeddah.
Al Ahli are the reigning Asian champions and would be only the second club to win back-to-back title. Head coach Matthias Jaissle would be the first coach to achieve successive championship wins.
With the US war on Iran having disrupted ACL Elite qualifying schedules in the AFC’s West region, Al Ahli had to complete a group stage that was rearranged and centralised in Saudi Arabia, finishing just days before the quarter final stage began.
Drawn against rapidly improving Malaysian challenger Johor Darul Ta’zim in the last eight, Al Ahli came from behind for a 2-1 win with goals from Franck Kessie and a stunning Galeno strike in the 54th minute.
In the semi-final they faced Japan’s Vissel Kobe and again had to come back from behind with another long distance strike from Galeno, and a winner from Ivan Toney at the close of the game.
In contrast, Machida’s progression has been less dramatic, more measured and rooted in a belief in their defensive formation.
In their quarter final they met two-time champions Al Ittihad Club, with the Saudi Arabian side having home ground advantage. Machida have developed a knack of winning games by a single goal and, far from overawed by the Al Ittihad support, a Tete Yengi goal was enough to see them through.
In the semi-final, UAE’s Shabab Al Ahli were their next victim with another 1-0 win with Yuki Soma scoring the goal in the 12th minute. What then followed was a tremendous rearguard action by the Japanese in what is their maiden Champions League Elite tournament.
The story of the two clubs this season has also been the story of two newcomers to Asian club football management.
Jaissle began his Saudi Arabian tenure in the 2023/24 season, with the Jeddah-based club returning to the top tier after having suffered a shock relegation. A former player with Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga he shifted into management aged 31, quickly finding success at Danish club side Brondby IF but then at Austrian side RB Salzburg where he caught the attention of the Saudis.
Kuroda has a very different background and after three-and-a-half years after starting his first job in professional football, the 55-year-old is one win away from becoming an Asian champion.
“I was a teacher in high school for 30 years and we won the All Japan tournament so I managed to create a top football team in high school. Then I was given this opportunity. Of course it was to do with the football. But my priority is to organise the team,” Kuroda told the AFC website.
“Team management is my forte and I have been doing this for ages,” he continued. “On top of that we have built the technical aspects of the team. Football is the same in high school and professional football. This is sport, whether it’s at the professional level or not.”
“To keep a clean sheet is our motto. We managed to achieve that and that gave us confidence.”
Whether his team can keep a clean sheet against the celebrated attack of Al Ahli with Franck Kessie, the mercurial Galeno and the physical presence of Toney, will be decided on Saturday at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah.
Machida will also have to face trophy hungry Algerian legend Riyad Mahrez.
“I have had an amazing journey in my career with amazing memories with all the clubs that I’ve been at,” said Mahrez. “Every trophy means a lot, whatever the competition…
“When we started the season, we had a lot of targets. Everything that we play in, I want to win. I couldn’t win the African Cup of Nations, the league is not finished but now we have a chance in the AFC Champions League Elite.
“We won’t take anything for granted. To be in the final two years in a row is something incredible. Every day, with the experience of last year, brings more calm and confidence.”
Whoever wins, AFC Champions League history is being made.
Contact the writer of this story at power.l1777041341labto1777041341ofdlr1777041341late1777041341sni@n1777041341Donkeys1777041341eat.l1777041341uap1777041341
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