A moment of magic from Brazilian striker Elkeson gave Guangzhou Evergrande a 1-0 win over Al Ahli on Saturday evening and a second AFC Champions League title in three years.
After over 140 minutes of goalless action between the champions of China and the United Arab Emirates, the Brazilian brought over 50,000 fans in the Tianhe Stadium in Guangzhou to their feet early in the second half. The goal also gives Luiz Felipe Scolari the continental title to add to the Chinese Super League prize that was clinched last month.
There was more action in the first half hour of the second leg than the first game in Dubai two weeks previously. Once again Guangzhou controlled possession but this time, Al Ahli were looking dangerous on the counter-attack.
For Guangzhou, tournament top scorer Ricardo Goulart had been a doubt to start but recovered from injury enough to flick the ball goalwards from a low cross from the left but Ahmed Mahmoud was equal to it.
Al Ahli star striker Lima had been quiet in the first leg, his first game in 13 that the Brazilian failed to find the target, but almost gave his team the lead after 27 minutes. The ex-Benfica man was fed by Everton Ribeiro on the right side of the area and his fierce shot was a little too close to Zeng Cheng who made the save.
Soon after, the goalkeeper was limping off the pitch to be replaced by Li Shuai. His opposite number was busier and just before the break had to react quickly to keep out a Zheng Long header from close range.
Elkeson has been overshadowed in the AFC Champions League by Goulart but rose to the occasion in style 10 minutes after the break. The Brazilian received the ball from Zheng Long inside the area with his back to goal, flicked it with the inside of his right foot, spun left past the bamboozled Salmin Khamis and drove a low shot into the net for a goal that Dennis Bergkamp would have been proud of.
It went from bad to worse for the defender and his team just minutes later as he received a straight red card for stamping on the chest of Zheng Long. The centre-back had to be physically restrained on the sidelines as he tried to return to the playing area.
Yet it didn't change the fact that a goal for Al Ahli would be enough for the Dubai team meant that there was always a certain amount of tension that only grew as the final whistle drew nearer. There was a feeling that the visitors would get a chance and it came with 13 minutes remaining. Lima beat the offisde trap, rounded the goalkeeper but saw his shot blocked by Kim Yong-gwon.
That was as close as the UAE team got in 180 minutes of football and there was still time for Elkeson to blast over from inside the area. That miss was soon forgotten as Guangzhou started celebrating. His goal however, will be remembered for a very long time indeed.