Japanese minnows one win from fairytale Champions League title

Machida Zelvia insist they will stay calm as they attempt to complete one of Asian football’s great upsets in Saturday’s Asian Champions League Elite final in Jeddah. The Tokyo‑area club, who were playing semi‑professional football just over a decade ago and only reached Japan’s top flight two years back, booked their place with a 1‑0 win over Shabab Al Ahli. Coach Go Kuroda, a former high‑school boss hired in 2022, praised his side’s discipline and said their clean‑sheet mentality has fuelled three straight 1‑0 knockout victories.

Machida now face defending champions Al Ahli at King Abdullah Sports City, where a hostile atmosphere awaits. Yuki Soma’s early goal proved decisive in the semi‑final, though Shabab Al Ahli were denied a stoppage‑time equaliser after a technical infringement. Al Ahli advanced by beating Vissel Kobe 2‑1, with Ivan Toney scoring the winner. For Machida, the final marks the pinnacle of an extraordinary debut continental campaign.