2021 AFC Champions League final

Last updated

2021 AFC Champions League final
King Fahd Int. Stadium- Opening Arabian Gulf Cup 2014.jpg
The King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh hosted the final
Event 2021 AFC Champions League
Al-Hilal Pohang Steelers
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svgFlag of South Korea.svg
20
Date23 November 2021 (2021-11-23)
Venue King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh
Man of the Match Moussa Marega (Al-Hilal)
Referee Mohammed Abdulla Hassan Mohamed (United Arab Emirates) [1]
Attendance50,171
WeatherClear
25 °C (77 °F)
47% humidity
← 2020
2022 →

The 2021 AFC Champions League final was the final of the 2021 AFC Champions League, the 40th edition of the top-level Asian club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the 19th under the AFC Champions League title.

Contents

The final was contested as a single match between Al-Hilal from Saudi Arabia and Pohang Steelers from South Korea. Prior to the match, both teams were joint most successful teams in the AFC Champions League, with three titles each. Al-Hilal won the match 2–0 and clinched their fourth title, becoming the outright most successful team in the history of the competition. [2] [3] [4] [5] As Asian champions, they also qualified for the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

Teams

In the following table, the finals until 2002 were in the Asian Club Championship era, and since 2003 in the AFC Champions League era.

TeamRegionPrevious finals appearances (bold indicates winners)
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Hilal West Region (Zone: WAFF)7 (1986, [A] 1987, [B] 1991, 2000, 2014, 2017, 2019 )
Flag of South Korea.svg Pohang Steelers East Region (Zone: EAFF)3 (1997, 1998, 2009 )
Notes
  1. ^
    The 1986 final was played in a four-team round-robin format, with Al-Hilal finishing as runners-up.
  2. ^
    Al-Hilal were unable to participate in the 1987 final and were declared runners-up.

Venue

On 20 October 2021, the AFC announced that Mrsool Park would host the final. It was later changed to King Fahd International Stadium, also in Riyadh. [6] [7]

Road to the final

Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away; *: played in centralized group locations).

Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Hilal Round Flag of South Korea.svg Pohang Steelers
OpponentResult Group stage OpponentResult
Flag of Uzbekistan.svg AGMK 2–2*Matchday 1 Flag of Thailand.svg Ratchaburi Mitr Phol 2–0*
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Shabab Al-Ahli 2–0*Matchday 2 Flag of Japan.svg Nagoya Grampus 0–3*
Flag of Tajikistan.svg Istiklol 3–1*Matchday 3 Flag of Malaysia.svg Johor Darul Ta'zim 4–1*
Flag of Tajikistan.svg Istiklol 1–4*Matchday 4 Flag of Malaysia.svg Johor Darul Ta'zim 2–0*
Flag of Uzbekistan.svg AGMK 3–0*Matchday 5 Flag of Thailand.svg Ratchaburi Mitr Phol 0–0*
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Shabab Al-Ahli 0–2*Matchday 6 Flag of Japan.svg Nagoya Grampus 1–1*
Group A runners-up
PosTeam
PldPts
1 Flag of Tajikistan.svg Istiklol 610
2 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Hilal (H)610
3 Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Shabab Al-Ahli 67
4 Flag of Uzbekistan.svg AGMK 67
Source: AFC
(H) Hosts
Final standings Group G runners-up
PosTeam
PldPts
1 Flag of Japan.svg Nagoya Grampus 616
2 Flag of South Korea.svg Pohang Steelers 611
3 Flag of Malaysia.svg Johor Darul Ta'zim 64
4 Flag of Thailand.svg Ratchaburi Mitr Phol (H)62
Source: AFC
(H) Hosts
OpponentResult Knockout stage OpponentResult
Flag of Iran.svg Esteghlal 2–0 (A)Round of 16 Flag of Japan.svg Cerezo Osaka 1–0 (A)
Flag of Iran.svg Persepolis 3–0 (H)Quarter-finals Flag of Japan.svg Nagoya Grampus 3–0 (H)
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Al-Nassr 2–1 (A)Semi-finals Flag of South Korea.svg Ulsan Hyundai 1–1 ( a.e.t. )(5–4 p) (A)

Format

The final was played as a single match. If tied after regulation time, extra time and, if necessary, a penalty shoot-out would have been used to decide the winning team. [8]

Match

Al-Hilal Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg 2–0 Flag of South Korea.svg Pohang Steelers
Live Report
Stats Report
King Fahd International Stadium, Riyadh
Attendance: 50,171
Referee: Mohammed Abdulla Hassan Mohamed (United Arab Emirates)
Kit left arm alhilal21h.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body alhilal21h.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm alhilal21h.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
Al-Hilal
Kit left arm pohang21h.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body pohang21h.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm pohang21h.png
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts pohang21h.png
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
Pohang Steelers
GK1 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Abdullah Al-Mayouf
RB2 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Mohammed Al-Breik
CB20 Flag of South Korea.svg Jang Hyun-soo
CB32 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Muteb Al-Mufarrij
LB16 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Nasser Al-Dawsari
CM7 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Salman Al-Faraj (c)
CM28 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Mohamed Kanno Yellow card.svg 83'Sub off.svg 90+4'
RW17 Flag of Mali.svg Moussa Marega Yellow card.svg 26'
AM15 Flag of Brazil.svg Matheus Pereira Yellow card.svg 84'
LW29 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Salem Al-Dawsari
CF18 Flag of France.svg Bafétimbi Gomis Sub off.svg 85'
Substitutes:
GK31 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Habib Al-Wotayan
GK33 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Abdullah Al-Jadaani
DF12 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Yasser Al-Shahrani Sub on.svg 85'
DF23 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Madallah Al-Olayan
DF70 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Mohammed Jahfali Sub on.svg 90+4'
MF43 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Musab Al-Juwayr
MF56 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Mohammed Al-Qahtani
MF88 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Hamad Al-Yami
FW11 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Saleh Al-Shehri
FW14 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Abdullah Al-Hamdan
Manager:
Flag of Portugal.svg Leonardo Jardim
Al-Hilal vs Pohang Steelers 2021 AFC Champions League Final.svg
GK21 Flag of South Korea.svg Lee Jun
RB32 Flag of South Korea.svg Park Seung-wook
CB13 Flag of South Korea.svg Gwon Wan-gyu Yellow card.svg 42'
CB2 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Alex Grant Yellow card.svg 20'
LB10 Flag of South Korea.svg Kang Sang-woo (c)
CM17 Flag of South Korea.svg Shin Kwang-hoon
CM57 Flag of South Korea.svg Lee Soo-bin Sub off.svg 46'
RW8 Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Mario Kvesić Sub off.svg 46'
AM6 Flag of South Korea.svg Sin Jin-ho
LW77 Flag of South Korea.svg Lim Sang-hyub Yellow card.svg 67'
CF82 Flag of Colombia.svg Manuel Palacios
Substitutes:
GK41 Flag of South Korea.svg Cho Sung-hoon
DF3 Flag of South Korea.svg Lee Kwang-jun
DF4 Flag of South Korea.svg Jeon Min-gwang Yellow card.svg 53'Sub on.svg 46'
DF30 Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Ryun-seong
MF14 Flag of South Korea.svg Oh Beom-seok
MF37 Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Ho-nam
MF38 Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Jin-hyun
MF79 Flag of South Korea.svg Go Young-joon Sub on.svg 46'Sub off.svg 81'
FW20 Flag of South Korea.svg Lee Ho-jae Sub on.svg 81'
FW25 Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Seong-ju
Manager:
Flag of South Korea.svg Kim Gi-dong

Man of the Match:
Moussa Marega (Al-Hilal)

Assistant referees: [1]
Mohamed Al-Hammadi (United Arab Emirates)
Hasan Al-Mahri (United Arab Emirates)
Fourth official: [1]
Adel Al-Naqbi (United Arab Emirates)
Video assistant referee: [1]
Ammar Al-Jeneibi (United Arab Emirates)
Assistant video assistant referees: [1]
Omar Mohamed Al-Ali (United Arab Emirates)
Hanna Hattab (Syria)

Match rules [8]

  • 90 minutes.
  • 30 minutes of extra time if tied.
  • Penalty shoot-out if still tied after extra time.
  • Ten named substitutes, of which up to five may be used, with a sixth allowed in extra time. [note 1]

Notes

  1. ↑ Each team was only given three opportunities to make substitutions, with a fourth opportunity in extra time, excluding substitutions made at half-time, before the start of extra time and at half-time in extra time.

    Related Research Articles

    The 1995 King Fahd Cup was the second and last tournament held under the King Fahd Cup name before the competition was retroactively sanctioned by FIFA and recognized as FIFA Confederations Cup. Disputed as the King Fahd Cup, in honor of the then Saudi ruler who organized the tournament with his country's federation, it was hosted by Saudi Arabia in January 1995. It was won by Denmark, who beat defending champions Argentina 2–0 in the final.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Nawaf Al-Temyat</span> Saudi Arabian footballer (born 1976)

    Nawaf Bander Nawaf Al-Temyat is a Saudi Arabian former footballer who played as a midfielder.

    Yousuf Al-Thunayyan is a former association football winger and attacking midfielder from Saudi Arabia. He spent all 21 seasons of his senior career at Al-Hilal FC. A playmaker known for vision and technique, Al-Thunayyan was nicknamed "The Philosopher" for his dribbling, goal scoring, and playmaking skills. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest Saudi and Asian players of all time.

    The 2009 AFC Champions League was the 28th edition of the top-level Asian club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the 7th under the current AFC Champions League title. The final was held at the National Stadium in Tokyo on 7 November 2009. The winners, South Korean club Pohang Steelers, qualified for the 2009 FIFA Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

    The 1997 Asian Super Cup was the 3rd Asian Super Cup, a football match played between the winners of the previous season's Asian Club Championship and Asian Cup Winners Cup competitions. The 1997 competition was contested by Pohang Steelers of South Korea, who won the 1996–97 Asian Club Championship, and Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia, the winners of the 1996–97 Asian Cup Winners' Cup.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Football in Saudi Arabia</span>

    Football is the most popular sport in Saudi Arabia. Football in Saudi Arabia is governed by the Saudi Arabia Football Federation (SAFF). It was founded in 1956. It administers both the club competitions and the national football teams of Saudi Arabia.

    Nawaf Shaker Fayrouz Al-Abed is a Saudi Arabian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Al-Riyadh.

    The knock-out stage of the 2014 AFC Champions League was played from 6 May to 1 November 2014. A total of 16 teams competed in the knock-out stage.

    The 2014 AFC Champions League Final was the final of the 2014 AFC Champions League, the 33rd edition of the top-level Asian club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the 12th under the current AFC Champions League title.

    The 2017 AFC Champions League Final was the final of the 2017 AFC Champions League, the 36th edition of the top-level Asian club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the 15th under the current AFC Champions League title.

    The 2019 AFC Champions League Final was the final of the 2019 AFC Champions League, the 38th edition of the top-level Asian club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the 17th under the current AFC Champions League title.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 AFC Champions League</span> 40th edition of premier club football tournament organized by the AFC

    The 2021 AFC Champions League was the 40th edition of Asia's premier club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the 19th under the current AFC Champions League title.

    The 2021 AFC Champions League group stage was played from 14 to 30 April 2021 for the West Region and from 22 June to 11 July 2021 for the East Region. A total of 40 teams competed in the group stage to decide the 16 places in the knockout stage of the 2021 AFC Champions League.

    The 2006 Saudi Crown Prince Cup Final was the 31st final of the Crown Prince Cup, Saudi Arabia's main football knock-out competition at the time.

    The 2020 King Cup final was the 45th final of the King Cup, Saudi Arabia's main football knock-out competition.

    The 2021 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs were played from 7 April to 23 June 2021. A total of 15 teams competed in the qualifying play-offs to decide seven of the 40 places in the group stage of the 2021 AFC Champions League.

    The 2021 AFC Champions League knockout stage was played from 13 September to 23 November 2021. A total of 16 teams competed in the knockout stage to decide the champions of the 2021 AFC Champions League.

    The 2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite is the 43rd edition of Asia's premier club football tournament, organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the first since it was rebranded as the AFC Champions League Elite. The revamped format, along with the rebranding, sees 24 teams playing eight games against different opponents in the brand new league phase.

    The 2023–24 AFC Champions League knockout stage began on 13 February with the round of 16 and ended on 25 May 2024 with the final to decide the champions of the 2023–24 AFC Champions League. A total of 16 teams competed in the knockout stage.

    The 2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite league stage will be played from 16 September 2024 to 19 February 2025.

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 5 "طاقم دولي إماراتي يُدير نهائي دوري أبطال آسيا 2021" (in Arabic). UAE Football Confederation. 29 October 2021.
    2. ↑ Tan, Gabriel (22 November 2021). "Al Hilal, Pohang Steelers face off in ACL final gunning for record fourth crown". ESPN. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
    3. ↑ Church, Michael (21 November 2021). "Al Hilal and Pohang to face off with Asian record on the line". Reuters . Retrieved 31 December 2024.
    4. ↑ "Al Hilal, Pohang set up Riyadh decider". FIFA. 20 October 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
    5. ↑ Duerden, John (23 November 2021). "Al-Hilal win AFC Champions League with 2–0 victory over Pohang Steelers". Arab News PK. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
    6. ↑ "Saudi Arabia to host 2021 AFC Champions League final". ESPN. 20 August 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
    7. ↑ Jabir, Wael (15 November 2021). "Historic King Fahd International Stadium set for major upgrade as Saudi Arabia bids for 2027 AFC Asian Cup". Arab News. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
    8. 1 2 "AFC Champions League 2021 Competition Regulations" (PDF). the-afc.com. Asian Football Confederation.
    This page is based on this Wikipedia article
    Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
    Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.