Pakistan, April 27 -- Tournament debutants Machida Zelvia of Japan were beaten in the final of the Asian Champions League Elite on Saturday after going down 1-0 against 10-man reigning champions Al Ahli Saudi of Saudi Arabia.

Go Kuroda-managed Machida, who have only two J-League first-division campaigns under their belts, had a man advantage after Zakaria Hawsawi's 68th-minute sending off but Feras Al Brikan hit the 96th-minute winner for Al Ahli Saudi at their King Abdullah Sports City Hall Stadium in Jeddah packed with home supporters.

"We're in our third year in the J1 and a team on an annual salary of less than a 10th (of Al Ahli). This will become our asset," said Kuroda, in charge of Machida from 2023, then in the J2, after 28 yea...