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.