Al-Ain beat Yokohama to win Asian Champions League

Al-Ain beat Yokohama to win Asian Champions League

The UAE club lifts the trophy for the second time in their history.

Al-Ain’s players celebrate after winning the AFC Champions League final against Yokohama. (AP pic)

AL-AIN: Hernan Crespo’s Al-Ain steamrollered 10-man Yokohama F-Marinos 5-1 in the Asian Champions League final second leg to lift the trophy for the second time in their history on Saturday.

The hosts trailed 2-1 from the away fixture but two goals from Soufiane Rahimi, a Kaku penalty and Kodjo Laba’s late double ensured a 6-3 aggregate victory after Yokohama goalkeeper William Popp saw red just before half-time.

Al-Ain, the oil-rich UAE’s most successful club, won the inaugural Champions League final in 2003 and were runners-up in 2005 and 2016.

Harry Kewell’s Yokohama were attempting to become the fourth Japanese winners after Gamba Osaka, Kashima Antlers and three-time winners Urawa Red Diamonds.

The win will be all the sweeter for Crespo after the 2005 European Champions League final, when the ex-Argentina international scored twice for AC Milan before Kewell’s Liverpool came back to win on penalties.

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