Elkeson magic as Guangzhou Evergrande reclaim Asian crown

Elkeson magic as Guangzhou Evergrande reclaim Asian crown

GUANGZHOU - A moment of magic from Brazil's Elkeson earned China's Guangzhou Evergrande their second AFC Champions League title in three years on Saturday after a tense second leg of their final against Al Ahli.

Guangzhou Evergrande supporters take a selfie before the team's AFC Champions League football final against UAE's Al-Ahli in Guangzhou, China, on November 21, 2015

The striker's instinctive turn and toe-poke on 54 minutes finally unlocked the Emirati team's defence to earn a 1-0 win for Luiz Felipe Scolari's side after the first leg in Dubai ended goalless.

The victory was wildly celebrated at a packed Tianhe stadium as the 2013 champions regained the Asian title and earned a spot at next month's Club World Cup in Japan.

It was also a personal victory for Scolari, who led Brazil to a humiliating 7-1 defeat to Germany in last year's World Cup semi-finals but who has kept Evergrande unbeaten since his arrival in June.

Al Ahli proved worthy opponents but their challenge was fatally holed when defender Salmin Khamis saw red for a stamp on 66 minutes, and was so incensed he had to be restrained pitchside.

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