Al Ittihad breezed into the final of the AFC Champions League as a 2-1 win over Nagoya Grampus in their semi-final second-leg encounter at Mizuho Athletic Stadium on Wednesday secured an 8-3 aggregate victory.

The Saudi side had won the first-leg in Jeddah 6-2, meaning Nagoya would need to score at least four goals to have any hope of progressing and though they made a bright start, Al Ittihad in the end proved too strong as they put the tie beyond a doubt with goals in each half from Saleh Al Saqri (pictured shielding the ball from Maya Yoshida) and Amine Chermiti.

Substitute Keita Sugimoto scored a stunning consolation for the hosts midway through the second-half and though Nagoya finished with a flourish, it proved immaterial.

With little other option than to attack, Nagoya dominated possession in the opening exchanges. Josh Kennedy had a good chance in the 17th minute when the Australia international shrugged off his marker and turned towards goal before drilling an effort from outside the area that flew narrowly wide of the post.


Though Al Ittihad appeared content to soak up pressure, they did look dangerous on the occasions they broke and came close to taking the lead in the 22nd minute.

Nagoya goalkeeper Toru Hasegawa punched away a free-kick only as far as the lurking Saud Khariri and the midfielder despatched a first-time effort that seemed destined for the goal only for Yoshizumi Ogawa to smash the ball away.

That sparked the game into life and Nagoya had another couple of chances as Kennedy rattled the bar just after the half-hour mark with a header before Keiji Tamada’s rasping drive cannoned off a defender and flew just wide of the goal.

But Nagoya’s hopes of staging a comeback were shattered four minutes before the break when Al Ittihad took the lead.

Rashed Al Rahab played a low ball into the area from the right that skipper Mohammed Noor struck goalwards and though Hasegawa succeeded in denying that effort, he could only push the ball into the path of Al Saqri, who applied the simple finish.

Kennedy had a golden chance to bring Nagoya level soon after the restart when he bustled his way through on goal but his flicked effort was easily repelled by Zaid.

Instead, it was Al Ittihad who further twisted the knife with a second in the 59th minute as Noor whipped in a cross and on-loan Hertha Berlin striker Chermiti rose to power a header beyond Hasegawa.

But there was some joy for the home fans when Nagoya pulled a goal back eight minutes later through a breathtaking finish from Sugimoto.

Brazilian midfielder Magnum lifted the ball into the area for the onrushing substitute, who controlled with his chest before unleashing a fine overhead kick beyond the dumbfounded Zaid.