Pohang Steelers defeated Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia 2-1 in the Asian Champions League final in Tokyo tonight.

The win gives the Pohang their 3rd title and they now sit as the most successful club team in Asian football history.

The first half ended goalless. Just before the 60th minute Pohang took the lead against the run of play through Noh Byung-joon. A couple of minutes later Kim Hyung-il scored the second through a header.

Mohammed Noor clawed on back for Al Ittihad with 16 minutes to go, but Pohang held on to become champions for 2009.

Although the National Stadium in Tokyo wasn’t filled, there was enough noise from the loyal fans who travelled to Japan.


Al Ittihad almost scired within 30 seconds. Pohang goalkeeper Shin Hwa-young rushed out of the six-yard box to the byline but was beaten to the ball by Hicham Aboucherouane though the Morocan striker shot into the side-netting.

Pohang went close almost immediately, with Denilson’s low cross just cleared by the Saudi defence and after nine minutes, Kim Tae-soo brought a good save out of Mabrouk Zaid with a low drive that was sneaking in at the far post.

Halfway through the first half, Redha Tukar, who scored in both legs of the 2004 final, almost headed Al Ittihad ahead from a deep free-kick but Pohang’s keeper held it safely.

Pohang’s keeper was kept busy by fierce shooting from Aboucherouane.

Following the restart, Al Ittihad came close to taking the lead. Tukar’s cross on the left found the head of Amine Chermiti but while the ball had goalkeeper Shin beat, it bounced back off the middle of the crossbar.

The Tunisian missed a much easier chance five minutes later. Pohang were able to block a series of Saudi shots but were unable to clear their lines.

A cross eventually found Chermiti three yards out, and looking offside, but the African somehow shot over the bar.

Then after 56 minutes, Pohang snatched the lead. A free-kick from Noh found its way through the yellow wall and into the bottom corner.

The goal was against the run of play but the Steelers visibly grew in confidence against a stunned Al Ittihad.

Eight minutes later, Pohang moved further ahead through another set piece. Defender Kim Hyung-il rose above the Ittihad defence to head home a Kim Jae-sung free-kick into the corner of the net.

Al Ittihad looked to be out of the match but with 16 minutes remaining, Shin could only parry a header from Chermiti into the path of Noor who volleyed home from near the penalty spot.

Unsurprisingly, the goal put a spring in the Saudi step and moments later, Shin had to react well to push a fierce drive from substitute Luciano round the post.

By this time, the game was completely open and Noh and Denilson both had good chances to restore Pohang’s two-goal advantage.

As the clock ticked, Pohang continued to look the likelier of the two teams to score and didn’t have too many problems in seeing out the game and becoming the champions of Asia.

Al Ittihad  (KSA) 1 V 2 Pohang Steelers (KOR) (Full Time)

Pohand Steelers from South Korea are 2009 AFC Asian Champions. Congratulations……

Its been a busy 2009 for most of the players and teams fighting for the title of Asian Champions 2009. In addition to league and cup games, many players have also had Asian Cup and World Cup commitments.

Lets track the long road to the final for both teams.

The tournament started with 32 teams representing all nations within the Asian Confederation. After 6 rounds of group games, 16 teams progressed to the round of 16. This included Al Hilal (KSA), Umm Salal (QAT), Perspolis (KSA), Bunyodkor Tashkent (UZB), Al Ittihad (Jeddah) (KSA), Al Shabab (IRN), Al Ittifaq (KSA), Pakhtakor Tashkent (UZB), Nagoya Grampus (JPN), Suwon Samsung Bluewings (KOR), Gamba Osaka (JPN), Kawasaki Frontale (JPN), Kashima Antlers (JPN), FC Seoul (KOR), Pohang Steelers (KOR) and Newcastle United Jets (AUS).

The round of 16 was a single game playoff, with only the winners progressing into the last 8 (Qtr Finals). There was some great match-ups inlcuding Nagoya and Kawasaki, an all Japanese duel. Al Ittihad narrowly beat Al Shabab 2- 1 to progress. Whilst Pohang thumped Newcastle United 6 – 0.

The Qtr finalists were determined as FC Seoul (KOR), Umm Salal (QAT), Nagoya Grampus (JPN), Kawasaki Frontale (JPN), Al Ittihad (KSA), Pakhtakor (UZB), Pohang Steelers (KOR) and Bunyodkor (UZB). These teams over 2 rounds would determine the final 4.

Two big Japanese teams were once again matched up in Nagoya versus Kawasaki. Al Ittihad was matched with Pakhtakor and easily overcame them 5 – 1 over 2 rounds. Pohang didn’t have such as easy time with Bunyodkor. They comfortably won the first legs 4 – 1 but lost the second 3 – 1. The 1 goal was enough to see them progress to the semi-finals.

So the 4 semi finalists were now Nagoya Grampus (JPN), Al Ittihad (KSA), Umm Salal (QAT) and Pohang Steelers (KOR). Al Ittihad sealed their place in the final in the first leg by overcoming Nagoya by 6 – 2. Nagoya was eager to repair some pride, but the pressure to score was too much for them and they succumbed to a second loss, this time 2 – 1 at home.

Pohang had a much tougher hittout with Umm Salal.The first leg ended 2 – 0 in their favour and was then followed with a 2 – 1 away win.

So now we enter the final phase for the 2009 AFC Champions League. The two finalists are Al Ittihad from Saudia Arabia and Pohang Steelers from Korea. The final will be played on Saturday 7 November at 9pm AEST in Japan.

Good luck to both teams and may the best team win. At this stage the odds are with Al Ittihad.

Saudi Arabian and Korean media have hailed the performances of their top clubs Al Ittihad and Pohang Steelers as they reached the final of the 2009 AFC Champions League.

Al Ittihad defeated Japan’s Nagoya Grampus 8-3 on aggregate. Pohang eliminated Qatar’s Umm Salal 4-1.

The final will be played at the National Stadium in Tokyo on November 7.

Al Youm,  Saudi Arabia’s leading  newspaper paid tribute to Al Ittihad’s Mohammed Noor with the headline “Noor of Al Itthad shines” as he helped end Japan’s two-year stranglehold on the tournament.

Al Hayat gloated on their domination of Nagoya by declaring “Al Ittihad extinguish the Japanese volcano”.

Al Madina newspaper praised Al Ittihad as the ideal football ambassadors of their country.

Korean media heaped praise on Pohang’s Brazilian coach Sergio Farias, who has shown great leadership and control in directing the teams path to the 2009 final.

Korean papers where also mindful that Al Ittihad had a history of beating K-League teams at important stages of previous tournaments.

“Farias magic, Pohang reaches final, face K-League killers Al Ittihad,” said Sports Seoul.

Joynews24 focused on Pohang’s goal of three trophies this year, including the K-League title and the Peace Cup which they won earlier this year.