Sadd won its first Asian Champions League title by stunning Jeonbuk Motors 4-2 on penalties following an enthralling 2-2 extra-time draw Saturday. Al-Sadd goalkeeper Mohamed Saqr saved two penalties in the shootout with Nadir Belhadj scoring the winning kick to seal the $1.5-million first prize and a place at the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan next month. Qatar's Al-Sadd was under pressure throughout the final at Jeonbuk's World Cup stadium but defended bravely and took two of its few chances to seal an unlikely triumph at the end of a campaign that began in the qualifiers in February. Heavy favorites Jeonbuk, roared on by a passionate 41,805 home crowd, looked stronger at the start and deservedly took the lead through its Brazilian playmaker Eninho in the 19th minute. The Brazilian was brought down on the edge of the area by Wesam Rizik but picked himself up to fire a sharp, curling, right-foot free kick into the corner of the net past a motionless Saqr. The Koreans failed to build on their early lead and the Qataris went level 10 minutes later thanks to an own goal by defender Sim Woo-yeon. The skillful Kader Keita, who was one of the players sent off over the semifinal punch-up, clipped a right-footed cross towards goal and the ball flicked off the head of Sim and past Kim Min-sik who stayed on his line when he should probably have moved to clear it. Jeonbuk took control of the game as Al-Sadd sank back, happy to defend as the Koreans wasted a number of chances. They were punished when Keita scored a brilliant counter-attack goal for the visitors in the 61st minute. Belhadj broke down the left and fed Ibrahim Khalfan whose cross was brilliantly controlled by Ivorian Keita who then managed to fire the bouncing ball low into the corner of Kim's goal. The goal looked set to be the winner as Jeonbuk squandered more chances while Saqr mixed brilliant saves with horrendous errors. Then Jeonbuk substitute Lee Seung-hyun scored a 92nd-minute header to force extra time after the keeper had failed to clear a corner. Messi pledge future to Barca Argentina star Lionel Messi has pledged his future to Champions League titleholder Barcelona and insisted no amount of money could lure him away from the Spanish giant. The 24-year-old midfield maestro told German daily Bild he wants to finish his career with Barcelona. “My plan is this: to play for Barcelona for the rest of my life,” said Messi, before insisting no amount of cash could persuade him to leave. “No, not money. I will go only when I don't think I am good enough or when the club don't want me anymore.” Despite having won the Champions League last season for the third time and having achieved the treble of Spanish league, Cup and Champions League with Barcelona in 2009, Messi said he still has a hunger for more titles. “I want to win everything which I have already won and I want to get better,” said the midfielder, one of the contenders for the Ballon d'Or.
