Al-Ahli beats Machida Zelvia in extra time to retain AFC Champions League Elite title

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Al-Ahli of Saudi Arabia successfully defended the AFC Champions League Elite crown after beating first-time finalist Machida Zelvia of Japan 1-0 on Saturday.

It took an extra-time goal from Saudi international striker Firas Al-Burikan to settle a bad-tempered final in front of 60,000 mainly Al-Ahli fans in Jeddah.

Al-Ahli played with 10 men for almost an hour but Machida was unable to make the advantage count.

“It's amazing,” said Al-Ahli winger Riyad Mahrez, who won the UEFA Champions League with Manchester City in 2023. “It was difficult for us again. We like to make it difficult for ourselves. Ten against 11 is nearly impossible, I don’t know how we found the strength and the energy. ... After the red card we stuck together, we fought more, we ran more until we scored.”

There were few scoring opportunities in the first half although Al-Ahli, owned by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, should have taken the lead when Brazilian winger Galeno broke free of the Machida defense only to see his low shot saved by goalkeeper Kosei Tani. Just before the break, Merih Demiral's close-range effort was blocked on the line.

Al-Ahli was reduced to 10 men midway through the second half when Zakaria Hawsawi was sent off for headbutting Tete Yangi as the two came together in front of the referee.

The dismissal shifted the momentum. Machida forced Al-Ahli goalkeeper Edouard Mendy into several saves. Normal time ended with Al-Ahli substitute Mohammed Abdulrahman also shown a red card while on the sidelines.

The deadlock was broken in the sixth minute of extra time when former Barcelona and AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie laid the ball off for Al-Burikan to fire high into the net from close range.

Al-Ahli became the first team to win back-to-back Asian titles since city rival Al-Ittihad in 2005.

“We are very happy to have reached the final,” Machida coach Go Kuroda said. “Al-Ahli is a team that possesses experience in the championship and we conceded a goal at a difficult time and couldn't get back into the game.”

The tetchy final reflected issues throughout the tournament.

All games from the quarterfinal stage onward were staged in Jeddah, and only 395 spectators attended Machida’s semifinal win over Shabab Al-Ahli of the United Arab Emirates.

The war in the Middle East postponed round-of-16 matches in West Asia from March to April and reduced them from two legs to one.

There were doubts over whether East Asia teams would travel to Saudi Arabia for the knockout rounds, but Tokyo Metropolis-based Machida, which has never won the J1 League, made club history.

Machida Zelvia's Hotaka Nakamura, left, fights for the ball with Al-Ahli's Galeno during their AFC Champions League Elite Final soccer match at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, April 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Ali Issa)

Machida Zelvia goalkeeper Kosei Tani helps Al-Ahli's Ivan Toney during their AFC Champions League Elite Final soccer match at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, April 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Ali Issa)

Machida Zelvia goalkeeper Kosei Tani faces Al-Ahli's Galeno during their AFC Champions League Elite Final soccer match at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, April 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Ali Issa)

Al-Ahli's Feras Albrikan hugs his teammate Ibanez after scoring at Machida Zelvia, during the AFC Champions League Elite Final soccer match between Al-Ahli and Machida Zelvia at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, April 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Ali Issa)

Al-Ahli's Feras Albrikan, left, scores at Machida Zelvia's goal keeper Kosei Tani, during the AFC Champions League Elite Final soccer match between Al-Ahli and Machida Zelvia at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, April 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Ali Issa)

NAHUNTA, Ga. (AP) — Two wildfires in southeastern Georgia continued to threaten homes and lives on Saturday as officials warned that strong winds could spread the flames.

Brantley County Manager Joey Cason called it a “dynamic situation” in a video posted to social media and begged residents to “please evacuate” if ordered to do so.

“This fire is going to move rapidly once these winds get here later today,” he said.

The Highway 82 Fire has been burning since Monday and has destroyed at least 87 homes. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said Friday that is the most for a single wildfire in the state's history.

The blaze was started by a foil balloon hitting live power lines. That created an electrical arc that ignited combustible material on the ground.

An infrared flight that detects heat was conducted overnight Friday, helping officials to better map the fire. A joint statement issued by multiple government agencies said the fire's perimeter was more than 14.8 square miles (38 square kilometers) and it was only about 10% contained.

Meanwhile a second fire about 70 miles (110 kilometers) to the southwest in Clinch and Echols counties, near the Florida state line, has burned more than 46.9 square miles (121 square kilometers) and destroyed at least 35 homes. Started by sparks from a welding operation, that wildfire was also about 10% contained.

Firefighters have been battling more than 150 other wildfires in Georgia and Florida that have sent smoky haze into places far from the flames, triggering air quality warnings for some cities.

An unusually large number of wildfires are burning this spring across the Southeast. Scientists say the threat of fire has been amplified by a combination of extreme drought, gusty winds, climate change and dead trees still littering some forests after being toppled by Hurricane Helene in 2024.

In northern Florida, Nassau County Sheriff’s Office volunteer firefighter James “Kevin” Crews died Thursday evening after he suffered an unspecified medical emergency while suppressing a brush fire. No fire deaths or injuries have been reported in Georgia.

The photo provided by the Office of Gov. Brian Kemp shows smoke produced by a wildfire in Brantley County, Ga., Friday, April 24, 2026. (Office of Gov. Brian Kemp via AP)

The photo provided by the Office of Gov. Brian Kemp shows smoke produced from a wildfire in Brantley County, Ga., Friday, April 24, 2026. (Office of Gov. Brian Kemp via AP)