DOHA, 31 March — Substitute striker Hussain Al Ali scored a brilliant golden goal to help Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal beat Chonbuk Hyundai of South Korea 2-1 and win the Asian Cup Winners’ Cup at the Al Sadd Stadium here yesterday.
Ali headed in a long, floating pass from Brazilian professional Edmilson Dias in the eighth minute of extra time to make amends for missing an absolute sitter two minutes earlier to give the Saudi giants their second success in the 10-year-old competition.
Al Hilal, who had won the event in 1996, were the better organized side though they came under constant attack from the spirited Koreans in the second half that saw goalkeeper Mohammed Al Daeyea at his best.
The Saudi goalkeeper, the most capped player in the country’s history, brought off several fine saves from shots struck from point blank range to come to the aid of Al Hilal, who took the field without their best striker and captain Sami Al Jaber.
But the Saudis took the setback in their stride and struck their first goal through Dias in the 13th minute after he found himself perfectly positioned to put away a measured pass from Nawaf Al Temyat off a corner taken by Mohammed Al Shloob.
Dias, who had scored the only goal in his team’s semifinal victory over Al Sadd, was again the key player for the Saudi outfit yesterday.
He could have put the seven-time Saudi league winners further ahead in the 20th minute when he did well to hoodwink the Chonbuk defense only to send the ball sailing over the bar.
Six minutes later, it was Chonbuk who were left cursing their luck when Jeon Kyeong-jung’s shot came off the post after Al Daeyea was squarely beaten. Al Hilal came under increased pressure in the second half with Park Seong-bae testing their defense a couple of times, which included an easy chance which the striker headed wide from close.
Chonbuk, however, were not to be denied and, when Turki Suwaileh tugged at Park Dong-hyuk’s shirt and prevented him from taking an easy crack at the goal, the referee had no option but to award a penalty.
Julio Cesar Vieira coolly wrong-footed Al Daeyea to send the ball crashing into the net.
Al Hilal could have closed out the match in regulation time but Al Shloob sent a penalty wide from the spot after Dias was brought down by Rogerio Prateat. That sent the match into extra-time in which Al Hilal came out trumps to add to their growing list of achievements on the Asian scene.
Earlier yesterday, Qatar’s Al Sadd defeated Chongqing Lifan of China 7-6 in a penalty shootout to clinch third spot.
