Al-Ahli 2-0 Kawasaki Frontale: Saudi side ease to AFC Champions League Elite glory

Al-Ahli triumphed in the AFC Champions League Elite for the first time in history after a 2-0 win over Kawasaki Frontale.

The Saudi Arabian side were crowned champions of Asia, becoming the 25th different side to win the competition, after a dominant performance in Jeddah.

Galeno curled home a delightful strike from outside the area after 35 minutes, the Brazilian whipping into the top-right corner with a dipping strike from Roberto Firmino’s simple offload.

Firmino was again the creator seven minutes later when his lofted right-sided delivery found Franck Kessie to thump a header beyond Louis Yamaguchi from close range.

Kawasaki, who dumped Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr out in the semi-finals, were unable to cope with their opponents and offered little threat throughout, failing to register a single shot on target all game from their seven attempts.

The victory makes Al-Ahli the third club from Saudi Arabia to win the continental title after previous successes by Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad.

History is written: ASIA IS OURS

WE ARE THE UNBEATEN CHAMPIONS OF THE AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE ELITE#AHLvKWF #ACLEliteFinal #ملوك_آسيا pic.twitter.com/vP8FVKehM5

— Al-Ahli Saudi Club (@ALAHLI_FCEN) May 3, 2025

Data Debrief: Fantastic Firmino

Firmino’s first-half creative display stole the show, especially with his pinpoint delivery for Kessie’s unmissable header from inside the six-yard box.

The former Liverpool star has contributed to 13 goals in the competition this season (six goals and seven assists), only managing more in a continental tournament in 2017-18, when he registered 17 (10 goals and seven assists) in the UEFA Champions League.

His dominant performance helped Al-Ahli become the fifth team to win this competition without any losses, after Al-Ittihad in 2005, Urawa Red Diamonds in 2007, Gamba Osaka in 2008, and Ulsan Hyundai in 2020.

It was a deserved victory, too, given Al-Ahli accumulated 1.13 expected goals to Kawasaki’s 0.33 in a one-sided final.