SINGAPORE: Sharjah FC claimed the AFC Champions League Two 2024-25 title with a dramatic 2-1 win over Singapore’s Lion City Sailors at Bishan Stadium on Sunday as Marcus Meloni scored deep into added time to secure victory for the side from the United Arab Emirates.
The final looked to be heading for extra-time when Lion City’s Maxime Lestienne cancelled out Firas Ben Arbi’s 74th minute goal but Meloni struck in the 97th minute to give Sharjah head coach Cosmin Olaroiu the perfect send off before he takes over as UAE national team boss.
Sharjah become the first club from the country to lift the title and follow in the footsteps of domestic rivals Al Ain, who won the AFC Champions League in 2003 and 2024, in becoming the only outfits from the Gulf state to taste continental glory.
Sharjah's Meloni had an early sight of goal but his free-kick from distance was comfortably dealt with by Lion City goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud as both teams took time to impose themselves on the game.
The home side shaded proceedings, with Bart Ramselaar denied the opener when his driven strike from the edge of the area was blocked by central defender Shaheen Abdalla and goalkeeper Adel al Hosani’s batted the ball to safety after it looped towards goal.
Caio Lucas almost unlocked the Lion City defence with 11 minutes left in the half, the Brazil-born winger swinging a right-foot cross in from close to the left touchline that an on-rushing Ben Arbi only narrowly missed reaching to beat Izwan.
The game was starting to open up and Diogo Costa almost put the Sailors in front moments later, the Portuguese winger hitting the base of Al Hosani’s right post with a powerful left-foot strike from the edge of the area.
MELONI HITS WINNER
Lion City midfielder Song Ui-young skied his first-time effort well off target inside the opening five minutes of the second half while Ramselaar started and almost finished a flowing move through the centre that ended with the ball flying over the bar.
Ousmane Camara squandered a gilt-edged opportunity with 21 minutes remaining, rising highest to meet Meloni’s corner from the right only to steer his header marginally wide of Izwan’s left post.
With 16 minutes remaining, however, Sharjah found their way through.
Caio Lucas swung the ball over from the left corner of the area towards Khaleed Ebraheim as the full-back galloped into space behind the Lion City defence and his first-time centre as he slid along the turf found Ben Arbi at the far post and he finished with aplomb.
The clock had barely ticked over into added time when Lestienne levelled, the prolific Belgian lashing a low left-foot shot through a defender’s leg and past Al Hosni to raise the possibility of extra-time.
But Meloni won the title for Sharjah six minutes later when he moved the ball onto his right foot on the left side of the Lion City penalty area and bent an unstoppable low shot beyond Izwan to seal a remarkable win. — AFC
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