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

Al Hilal players and staff celebrate with the trophy after winning the Asian Champions League title at the King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh yesterday. (Reuters)

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 yesterday. 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 last night those bitter memories were banished as the Saudi giants dominated their opponents in front of 50,000 fans. 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 Mohamed Kallon in the second minute against the UAE’s Al Ain in 2005. Al-Dawsari, who had been impressive throughout the tournament, was once again the key for Al Hilal with his impressive touches in midfield creating plenty of opportunities for his side. Pohang, too, had their opportunities and could have levelled in the 12th minute but Sin Jin-ho’s shot hit the woodwork and the rebound from Lim Sang-hyub was kept out by Al Hilal goalkeeper Abdullah al-Mayouf. Frenchman Bafetimbi Gomis sent his shot across the face of the goal later on from a Marega pass and al-Mayouf was once again alert to thwart an effort from Pohang’s Kwon Wan-kyu. Gomis had gone close again in the second half but made up for his miss with an excellent pass for Malian international Marega who outwitted Jeon Min-gwang before shooting past Lee in the 63rd minute. Al Hilal could have scored one more with 10 minutes remaining but Gomis fired wide and despite some frantic attempts by Pohang, the Saudis held firm to lay claim to being the most successful club side in Asia. Their previous wins came in 1991 and 2000, when the tournament was known as the Asian Club Championship, and in 2019.