Kim, who led Korea Republic's Ulsan Hyundai FC to victory in 2020 AFC Champions League, has joined the Sailors on a two-and-a-half year deal. He is expected to officially link up with the team in June.

The former Korean international will step into the role vacated by Aurelio Vidmar, who left the Sailors in April.

Issah Yakubu stole the headlines when he headed home with just over 15 minutes to play, but this was a triumph built first and foremost by solidarity throughout. The Beirut side conceded just three goals in a campaign in which they were almost impenetrable at the back.

Led by established Lebanese internationals such as captain Haytham Faour and goalkeeper Mehdi Khalil, as well as skillful forward players Mohamed Haider and Ahmed Zreik, there was no shortage of talent in Bassem Marmar's all-conquering side.

As Al Ahed prepare to kick off their 2021 AFC Cup group stage on May 24, the-AFC.com looks back at a success that will live long in the memory.

Needing a win to seal qualification on the night, the Turkmen side went ahead inside seven minutes thanks to Aleksander Mischenko’s unfortunate own goal, before captain Elman Tagayev swept home the sealer 12 minutes from time to make it two wins from two for Arazov’s men.

Runners-up for the last four seasons in Turkmenistan’s Yokary Liga, Ahal knew only winning the three-team Group E would be good enough to reach August’s Zonal finals, and they completed the task with back-to-back wins.

Behind to a disastrous goalkeeping error in the blink of an eye and starting down the barrel of a heavy defeat at 4-1 down after 48 minutes, Alay roared back into contention thanks to a pair of own goals from Guychmyrat Annagulyyev and Furkat Tursunov before remarkably equalising through Adilet Nurlan uulu in the 89th minute.

But just as it looked like Alay had salvaged a first ever AFC Cup point against Turkmen opposition, Asadbek Alimov fouled Altyn Asyr substitute Rahman Myratberdiyev, with Altymyrat Annadurdyyev stepping up to ease home the winner – his fourth goal in two matches – in the third minute of stoppage time.

The Japanese coach has not selected the Selangor centre-half as a precaution after he suffered a recent concussion, but has included uncapped trio Saifullah Akbar, Idraki Adnan and Ilhan Fandi in a squad captained by new Lions City Sailors signing Hariss Harun.

Talisca will be joining the Riyadh giants from China PR side Guangzhou FC, with whom he played three years and won the 2019 Chinese Super League title.

The Finnish coach has picked 16 players from Hong Kong Premier League title chasing duo Eastern and Kitchee as the territory looks to make an impact in Group C against Bahrain, Iraq, Islamic Republic of Iran and Cambodia.