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.

The striker's brilliant turn and finish 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 has kept Evergrande unbeaten since his arrival in June.

"The winners are those that will not give up. My next target is the world club championship. Why not? I have a great team at a great club and great players –- I can realise this dream," Scolari said.

"In life we have happy days and not so happy days, but tonight it has been a wonderful night. I’ve had a few great moments before and tonight I feel quite extraordinary," added the Brazilian.
 
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.

"We sat back a little in the second half and lost the ball a lot in the middle," said Al Ahli's Romanian coach Cosmin Olaroiu.

"After the red card we still kept trying to play and score. The players did a good job even if they didn’t win the trophy."