Al Dawsari’s 16th-second goal spurs Al Hilal to record fourth AFC title

Riyadh: Nasser al Dawsari scored the fastest ever goal in an Asian Champions League final as Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal swept past South Korea’s Pohang Steelers 2-0 to win the continental title for a record fourth time on Tuesday.

Both teams were aiming for an unprecedented fourth triumph but it was the hosts who made history with Al Dawsari and Moussa Marega on target at the King Fahd International Stadium in the Saudi capital.

Al Hilal’s victory came a year after they suffered the ignominy of being thrown out of the event following numerous cases of Covid-19 infections within their squad.

But on Tuesday night those bitter memories were banished as the Saudi giants dominated their opponents in front of 50,000 fans.

“I am proud of the team, they are a fantastic group of players’’, said Al Hilal coach Leonardo Jardim, the first Portuguese coach to win the Asian title.

“Winning the tournament was our target from the beginning and I’m happy we have achieved that.”

Al Dawsari sent the crowd into raptures with a fantastic strike from over 25 yards out after just 16 seconds.

The Pohang midfield failed to clear the ball, allowing al Dawsari space and the 22-year-old’s thundering left-foot shot found the top corner of the net despite Pohang goalkeeper Lee Jun’s despairing dive.

The previous fastest goal in an AFC Champions League final was scored by Saudi side Al Ittihad’s Sierra Leonean star Mohammed Kallon in the second minute against the UAE’s Al Ain in 2005.

“The early goal made the difference, the players didn’t concentrate and that goal impacted us hugely’’, said Pohang coach Kim Gi-dong.

“I had a strong feeling that we can turn it around but then they scored the second goal.” — AFP