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Leonardo’s brace helped South Korea’s Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors claim the early advantage in the 2016 AFC Champions League final after a 2-1 first-leg victory over Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates on Saturday.
Following a goalless first half at Jeonju World Cup Stadium the game burst into life after the interval and Danilo Asprilla’s half-volley put visitors Al Ain in front in the 63rd minute.
But Jeonbuk responded in emphatic style as Leonardo equalised with a superb effort from distance before the Brazilian converted from the spot with 15 minutes remaining to give the Koreans a slender lead ahead of the second leg in a week’s time.
Al Ain started the tie with leading scorer Douglas on the bench and star Omar Abdulrahman acting as a false nine with South American wide-men Caio and Asprilla either side.
And it was the 25-year-old Omar Abdulrahman who created the game’s first effort on goal as his free-kick launched into the box on eight minutes was met by Ismail Ahmed, although his header was straight at Jeonbuk goalkeeper Kwoun Sun-tae.
The sides struggled to impose their will on the early proceedings with passages of play often broken up by some tenacious tackling from either team.
The hosts did draw Khalid Eisa into a save on 17 minutes after Kim Bo-kyung’s low shot from Leonardo’s knockdown, before the Brazilian flashed in a free-kick eight minutes later that the Al Ain ‘keeper did well to punch clear.
Mohamed Abdulrahman then saw his angled strike from just inside the area saved by Kwoun diving to his right with five minutes remaining, as the closely fought contest finished goalless at the break.
Just nine minutes after the restart, though, Omar Abdulrahman showed the magic that has lit up the AFC Champions League this year as Caio found him in a central position and the frizzy-haired number 10 shimmied past two players before forcing Kwoun into a spectacular one-handed save.
And on 63 minutes Al Ain finally broke the deadlock when Omar Abdulrahman picked out Asprilla on the edge of the area and the Colombian took one touch before firing left-footed beyond the reach of Kwoun and into the top right corner.
The Emiratis’ lead would last just six minutes, though, as Leonard olevelled with a blistering strike from distance.
With his back to goal, the Brazilian picked up the ball just outside the left side of the penalty area before cutting inside and firing an unstoppable effort into the back of the net from 20 yards.
Then with 15 minutes to play the hosts were awarded a penalty when Kim Shin-wook was fouled by Mohanad Salem as he tried to get on the end of substitute Lee Dong-gook’s cross from the left.
Leonardo made no mistake with the ensuing spot kick as he dispatched to Eisa’s left for his 10th goal of the continental campaign.
Al Ain pushed for the equaliser and almost levelled the tie in injury time, but Ahmed headed Omar Abdulrahman’s corner from the left narrowly wide as Jeonbuk held out, and the Jeonju club will travel with a goal advantage to the UAE for the final decisive second leg tie on November 26.
