Late comeback defeats Al Ain as Yokohama F. Marinos close in on long-awaited Asian crown

Yokohama F. Marinos (then Yokohama Marinos), the first team to ever win a game in the J.League after beating Verdy Kawasaki (now Tokyo Verdy) in the opening match of the inaugural season in 1993, have been a driving force in the league for 32 years.

They won the championship for the first time in 1995 and claimed back-to-back titles in 2003 and 2004. After that they spent several years out of contention for the championship, but began their revival in 2018 when manager Ange Postecoglou took over. The team had previously been strong defensively, but under the new head coach they advocated an attacking style and were reborn as an attractive side.

Although they finished 12th that year, they scored 56 goals, tied for second in the league behind champions Kawasaki Frontale. In 2019, they dominated with their overwhelming attacking power, scoring 68 goals in 34 games and winning the championship for the first time in 15 years.

They also won the J1 title in 2022 under Kevin Muscat, the successor to Postecoglou, who had left for Celtic midway through the previous year, and their attacking style has continued in the current season under Harry Kewell.

Marinos‘ five league titles leave them second only to Kashima Antlers, who have eight, and another medal of honour they share with Kashima is that they are the only two teams to have never been relegated to J2.

Having also won the League Cup and Emperor’s Cup, the only thing Marinos lack is the title of Asian champions.

Marinos’ best result in the ACL was the Round of 16

Since the AFC Champions League (ACL) started in 2002, Marinos have participated in the competition six times. The first time they took part, in 2004, they were eliminated in the group stage, and in 2005 and 2014 they also went out at the same juncture.

As reigning J-League champions they made it into the knockout round for the first time in 2020  but lost to South Korea’s Suwon Samsung Bluewings in the Round of 16, the stage at which they also lost an all-Japanese clash with Vissel Kobe in 2022.

For Marinos, the ACL has been a daunting competition. However, the Tricolor is putting up a strong fight to avenge those difficult memories this year.

Marinos topped Group G, in which they faced Shandong Taishan (China), Incheon United (South Korea) and Kaya-Iloilo (Philippines).

In the Round of 16, they defeated Bangkok United (Thailand) 3-2 on aggregate to reach the quarter-finals for the first time.  They then advanced to the semi-finals with consecutive wins over Shandong Taishan, who they had also taken on in the group stage.

Marinos lost the first leg of their semi-final 1-0 away to Ulsan Hyundai (South Korea), but won the second game at home 3-2 thanks to two goals from Asahi Uenaka, and advanced to the final after a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win.

Crespo and Kewell, ‘The miracle of Istanbul’ clash

Marinos, now one step away from their long-cherished dream of winning the Asian championship, played the first leg of the final at their home International Stadium Yokohama on 11 May. Their opponents were Al Ain from the UAE, a team led by former Argentina international Hernán Crespo. Coincidentally, this meant that two players who’d come head to head in ‘The Miracle of Istanbul’ 19 years ago were squaring off again, this time on the Asian stage and as coaches.

The home side were on the attack from the outset in front of a crowd of over 53,000, with the Brazilian trio of Anderson Lopes, Élber and Yan Matheus leading a speedy assault on the visitors’ goal.

However, in the 12th minute, Marinos were caught out by a momentary lapse. A throw-in led to a break down the Marinos right flank, and Mohammed Abbas was able to force home a loose ball and give the visitors the lead.

Marinos, now in a difficult position, launched a counter-attack. They pressured their opponents with fast, direct moves, and the scent of a goal was thick in the air as Uenaka and Takuya Kida both fired in efforts from range.

However, Al Ain goalkeeper Khalid Eisa was equal to the task, and made some good saves to deny the visitors an equaliser.

In the second half, Marinos stepped up their attack, bringing on Kota Watanabe and Ryo Miyaichi in the 60th minute, and in the 72nd minute, Uenaka headed in Yan Matheus’ cross from the right to level things up.

The home side then took the lead in the 84th minute, when Yan Matheus again sent in a cross from the right. Miyaichi, who was waiting for the ball on the far side, met it on the volley and the ball reached Watanabe who reacted quickly and diverted it into the back of the net. While initially adjudged to have been offside, a VAR check reversed the referee’s decision, allowing Marinos to pull off a late comeback.

The Tricolor defended their lead stoutly and emerged with a 2-1 win to take into the second leg, which will be played in Al Ain on 25 May.

Only three Japanese teams have won the ACL: Urawa Reds (who have three titles to their name), Gamba Osaka and Kashima. Can Marinos see the job out and become the fourth team to claim the title of Asian champions?