Yokohoma turns the tables on Al Ain and wins the first leg of the AFC Champions League final sports

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11/5/2024–|Last updated: 11/5/202403:55 PM (Mecca time)

The Japanese team Yokohoma Marinos overturned a goal deficit against its guest Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates to win 2-1 in the match that brought them together today, Saturday, in the first leg of the AFC Champions League final.

Al Ain ended the first half ahead with a goal scored by Mohammed Abbas in the 12th minute.

In the second half, the Yokohoma team was able to score the equalizer through Asahi Uenaka in the 72nd minute, before Kota Watanabe scored the second goal in the 84th minute.

The return match will be held on the 25th of this month at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium in the Emirates.

Note that the champion of the competition reserves the fourth and final seat for the Asian continent in the 2025 Club World Cup in its expanded form, joining Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia, Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan, and Ulsan Hyundai of South Korea.

Al Ain qualified for the final match after topping the first group with 15 points, then defeated Nasaf Karshi of Uzbekistan 2-1 on aggregate in the round of 16, before defeating Al Nasr in the quarter-finals 3-1 on penalties after the two home and away matches ended 4-4. Then, it defeated Al-Hilal Saudi Arabia in the semi-finals 5-4 on aggregate.

On the other hand, Yokohama qualified for this round after topping Group Seven with 17 points, defeating Bangkok United of Thailand in the quarter-finals, then defeating Shandong Taishan of China in the quarter-finals, before defeating Ulsan Hyundai of Korea in the semi-finals.

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