Al Hilal coach Leonardo Jardim celebrates with the trophy and his players after winning the Asian Champions League (ACL) final against Pohang Steelers at King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudia Arabia, yesterday. Al Hilal claimed a record fourth ACL title after they beat the South Korean club 2-0.
Riyadh: Al Duhail’s Michael Olunga was crowned the 2021 AFC Champions League’s (ACL) top scorer yesterday, finishing with a tournament-best of nine goals.
Olunga’s feat of nine goals in six games makes him the first Kenyan and Al Duhail player to win the prestigious award, scoring in every group stage game with his goals coming from set-pieces, distance, inside the area or via headers.
The striker scored on goal each against Al Duhail's matches against Al Shorta (36th minute), Al Ahli Saudi (53rd minute) before scoring his first ACL hat-track for the Qatari club on Matchday Three.
Against Esteghlal, Olunga was on target in the 10th, 27th and 85th minutes as Al Duhail beat the Iranian side 4-3
He then added a brilliant brace against Esteghlal (45+3 pen, 58th) on Matchday Four.
His brace was cancelled out by goals from Cheick Diabate and Mehdi Ghaedi as Esteghlal and Al Duhail played out a 2-2 draw.
On Matchday Five, Olunga scored in the 57th minute against Al Shorta but the Qatari side lost the match 2-1.
Finally, Al Ahli Saudi FC and Al Duhail played out a 1-1 draw on Matchday Six, ending both teams’ chances of qualification to the Round of 16 despite Olunga's strike in the 73rd minute.
