Antlers triumph in Tehran
Kashima claim their first big continental title
Having beaten Persepolis 2-0 at home a week earlier, Kashima Antlers never looked in danger in the return, and a goalless draw in Iran saw the Japanese side claim the AFC Champions League for the first time.
Having squeezed past Suwon Bluewings of South Korea 6-5 on aggregate over two entertaining games in the semi-finals, Antlers were worthy champions as the J.League recorded a second successive triumph, following Urawa Red Diamonds’ victory in 2017.
Watched from the sidelines by former club legend Zico, Kashima’s smooth, passing style meant the Japanese side were just a little too clever for the Iranian champions.
“It was a very tough game but my players were very mobile, battled well and I am delighted with the result,” said coach Go Oiwa afterwards. “I lost my voice but it is worth it.”
Oiwa’s side had to balance a tight domestic schedule with a continental competition that included tough Chinese opposition in Shanghai SIPG and Tianjin Quanjian during the knockout stage, but he paid tribute to their Final opponents, saying: “Persepolis were the strongest team we played in the Asian Champions League this year”.
He then went on to add: “It is not just the team and tactics, but their fans too, who were magnificent.”
And, for the first time since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, not all of the 100,000 supporters that packed the Azadi Stadium in the Iranian capital for the second leg were men.
Although only confirmed hours before kick-off, around 800 specially selected women were allowed to sit in a separate section of the stadium.
Signs of change were first noticed in the summer when the authorities allowed women to enter the same stadium to watch the national team in action during the World Cup on video screens, and it is hoped that this latest action could be a major step forward.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino was in attendance for the second leg and commented: “Today is a historic and festive day for football, a real breakthrough.
“The fact that over 1,000 women could cheer their favourite team and that this took place during Asian football’s most important game of the season makes this occasion even more special. This is the power of football and makes it all worthwhile.”
While Iran’s national team has been Asia’s best for the last four years or so, the same can’t be said of its club sides. The wait for a team to lift the trophy goes on, with Persepolis joining Sepahan and Zob Ahan, in 2007 and 2010 respectively, as losing finalists.
As for this year’s competition as a whole, teams from
the Chinese Super League were disappointing, despite boasting stars such as Hulk, Alexandre Pato, Axel Witsel and Oscar.
There were also less-than-convincing performances from sides representing Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – the best two performing countries from the western half of the continent of late. Al Duhail of Qatar had looked the west’s strongest side this term but they fell by the wayside, while fellow Qataris Al Sadd, with Xavi in midfield, were beaten by Persepolis in the semi-finals.
Since Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia won the title in 2005, the trophy has left east Asia only once, when Al Sadd triumphed in 2011.
But while there have been several Finals in which western teams have been unlucky, this year’s was not one of them.