Al-ahli's dramatic win in the afc champions league final

Zakaria Hawsawi's reckless head-butt on Tete Yengi in the second half of the AFC Champions League final nearly cost Saudi Arabia's Al-Ahli the title before Firas al-Buraikan's late extra-time goal secured a 1-0 victoryover Japanese debutants Machida Zelvia.

Moment of madness sees hawsawi sent off

With the score at 0-0 midway through the second half, Hawsawi lunged forward and connected with Yengi's jaw, dropping the stunned Australian to the ground in front of the referee and shocked Al-Ahli fans.

Hawsawi was correctly sent off but his moment of madness did little to affect the outcome as Riyad Mahrez's cross in extra time caused problems for Machida, allowing al-Buraikan to pounce at the far post and give Al-Ahli the win.

New Saudi Arabia coach Georgios Donis will not have been impressed by Hawsawi's impetuousness, while Machida coach Go Kuroda deserves praise for guiding his team to the final with a squad that lacks the star power of Al-Ahli's foreign signings.

Al-Ahli's victory means Saudi Arabia retains the continental club title, but the format of the tournament, with the knockout stages held in Jeddah, has been criticized for being unfair and damaging to the competition's integrity. The AFC has yet to provide a clear explanation for scrapping the traditional home-and-away two-legged ties.