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#ACL Final: 5 Classic 1st Legs

Tue, 07 May, 2024

#ACL Final: 5 Classic 1st Legs

Riyadh: The Yokohama Internatinoal Stadium plays host to the AFC Champions League 2023-24™ final first leg between Yokohama F. Marinos and Al Ain, bringing to a close a two-decade long era in Asia’s top club competition.

Twenty years earlier, Al Ain were also involved in the final, and with clubs moving into the AFC Champions League Elite and AFC Champions League 2 as of next season, the-AFC.com looks back at some of the most memorable final first legs.

#ACL - Hall of Fame

Mon, 06 May, 2024

#ACL - Hall of Fame

Kuala Lumpur: Yokohama F. Marinos and Al Ain FC will battle for the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 title over the coming days, with the first leg of the final to be played on Saturday.

Both will be determined to lift the trophy in the final season of the AFC Champions League in its present format, with a new three-tier club system to be introduced from the 2024/25 season.

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/photo/acl_-_hall_of_fame_.html

Semi-final, 2nd Leg: What they said

Fri, 26 Apr, 2024

Semi-final, 2nd Leg: What they said

Kuala Lumpur: The AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 semi-finals delivered in spectacular fashion over the past few days as the United Arab Emirates’ Al Ain FC and Yokohama F. Marinos of Japan booked their tickets to May’s final.

Having eliminated four-time Asian champions Al Hilal SFC, inaugural winners Al Ain will be aiming to lift the trophy for the second time while Yokohama, who ousted Ulsan Hyundai FC on penalties, are set to appear in the showpiece event for the first time. 
 
Following a pair of semi-final second legs that will live long in the memory, the-AFC.com looks back at what those involved had to say.

Semi-finals: 2nd Leg in Numbers

Fri, 26 Apr, 2024

Semi-finals: 2nd Leg in Numbers

Kuala Lumpur: Only two clubs remain in the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 after the semi-final stage of the continental competition came to an exciting conclusion on Wednesday.

While Al Ain FC of the United Arab Emirates held on to edge Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal SFC on aggregate and enter next month’s two-legged final from the West Zone, Japan’s Yokohama F. Marinos fought back to overcome Korean champions Ulsan Hyundai FC in a penalty shootout in the other last-four clash to represent the East. 
 
With both contests providing plenty to talk about, the-AFC.com looks back at the stats and facts that caught the eye from the second legs of the semi-finals.

Kewell: Marinos can handle any kind of pressure

Thu, 25 Apr, 2024

Kewell: Marinos can handle any kind of pressure

Yokohama: Harry Kewell expressed pride in the resilience of his players after Yokohama F. Marinos advanced to the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 final on Wednesday.

In a frenetic encounter at a rain-soaked Yokohama International Stadium, the Japanese side took a 3-0 lead by the 30th minute and 3-1 on aggregate, only to be pegged back by Korea Republic's Ulsan Hyundai with the match then needing penalties to decide the outcome.
 
Amazingly, Marinos played almost 90 minutes with 10 men, with Takumi Kamijima having been sent off in the 39th minute but not only did they not concede again, Kewell's side won the shootout 5-4.   

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/video/acl_-_sf_|_east_zone_2nd_leg_|_yokohama_f_marinos_jpn_3_-_2_5_-_4_pso_ulsan_hyundai_fc_kor.html

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/photo/s-final_2nd_leg_yokohama_f_marinos_jpn_v_ulsan_hyundai_fc_kor_.html

Marinos defeat Ulsan in semi-final thriller

Thu, 25 Apr, 2024

Marinos defeat Ulsan in semi-final thriller

Yokohama: Yokohama F. Marinos advanced to the AFC Champions League™ final for the first time after beating Ulsan Hyundai FC 5-4 on penalties in the second leg of the semi-final on Wednesday following a 3-3 draw on aggregate.

A pulsating first half at Yokohama International Stadium saw Asahi Uenaka’s double and a goal from Anderson Lopes put the Japanese side 3-1 up on aggregate.
 
However, a Matheus Sales header and a penalty from Darijan Bojanic brought the aggregate scoreline level at the interval as the hosts were also reduced to 10 men after Takumi Kamijima was dismissed.

With no further goals in the second half or extra time, the tie went to penalties where Eduardo struck the winning spot-kick after Yokohama goalkeeper William Popp had saved from Kim Min-woo as Yokohama booked a date with the United Arab Emirates’ Al Ain FC in next month’s final.

Eisa proud to have helped Al Ain advance

Wed, 24 Apr, 2024

Eisa proud to have helped Al Ain advance

Riyadh: Goalkeeper Khaled Eisa was thrilled to have played a major role in Al Ain securing passage to the AFC Champions League™ 2023/24 final on Tuesday.

The captain had to be at his best as Al Ain limited Al Hilal SFC to a 2-1 win in the return leg of their semi-final with the United Arab Emirates side advancing 5-4 on aggregate.

www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league/video/acl_-_west_zone_2nd_leg_|_al_hilal_sfc_ksa_2_-_1_al_ain_fc_uae.html

www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/s-final_2nd_leg_al_hilal_sfc_ksa_v_al_ain_fc_uae.html