The AFC Champions League final is out! Yokohama Mariners rush the first championship in the history of Al Ain to break the 21-year curse

Nian Zhou

2024-04-24 20:53Posted in Shandong Premier League commentator, Tencent Football Special Writer Creator in the field of sports

On April 24, Beijing time, the semifinals of the AFC Champions League were all over, and the final match was released, with the UAE's Al Ain vs. the Japanese team Yokohama Mariner.

In the semi-finals of the West Asia zone, Al Ain ended Riyadh Crescent's 34-game winning streak in the first leg, and although he lost in the second leg, he still eliminated the biggest favorite with an aggregate score of 5-4 and took the lead in the final.

The last time Al Ain reached the AFC Champions League final was in 2016, but at that time he lost to Jeonbuk Hyundai and won the runner-up, and the only time the team won the AFC Champions League was in 2003, 21 years ago!

In the East Asian semi-finals, Japan and South Korea played out, Yokohama Mariner and Ulsan HD drew 3-3 over two legs, and it was still difficult to distinguish the winner in overtime, and after a penalty shootout, Yokohama Mariner eliminated their opponents thrillingly and finally entered the final.

Yokohama Mariners advanced to the AFC Champions League final for the second time in history, the first time was in 1990, when it was still called the Asian Club Cup, and lost to Liaoning in the final, and after the AFC Champions League was restructured, it was the first time to reach the final.

In this way, this season's AFC Champions League final is Al Ain vs Yokohama Mariners, which is also the first meeting between the two teams in the history of the AFC Champions League.

In the last five seasons, East Asian and West Asian teams have won the championship alternately, last season was won by Urawa Red Diamonds, I don't know if this year is a return to West Asia, or is East Asia the first time since 2018 that the final champion will also qualify for the 2025 Club World Cup.

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