Western Sydney Wanderers, kings of Asia

Western Sydney Wanderers created Australian football history after a goalless draw with Al Hilal in the AFC Champions League second leg in Riyadh sealed a 1-0 aggregate victory and the title of Asian champion for 2014.

A defiant display from Tony Popovic’s side, that was highlighted by a remarkable late save by Ante Covic to maintain another clean sheet, secured a remarkable success for the A-League side in its first crack at the competition.

Tomi Juric’s goal in the first leg in Parramatta last weekend proved the difference between the teams after 180 enthralling minutes.

The Wanderers barely had a sight of goal on Sunday and had to repel wave after wave of attacks from their Saudi opponent at a hostile King Fahd International Stadium.

Wanderers needed more than just a stroke of good fortune to emerge unscathed, as referee Yuichi Nishimura turned down strong appeals for at least three seemingly blatent penalties for the host.

Covic was the hero for the visitor, the Wanderers’ veteran goalkeeper pulling off several important saves, but none more so than his miraculous stop from substitute Yasser Al Qahtani.

Covic somehow tipped the Saudi striker’s close-range shot around the post with five minutes to go, as the A-League side held on.

A triumphant Ante Covic (Getty)

Al-Hilal might have broken Western Sydney’s resistance as early as the 19th minute, centre-back Digao failing to get on the end of Thiago Neves’s free-kick with the goal gaping.

That set the tone for a night of frustration as far as the home side was concerned.

Refreee Nishimura was at the centre of the action, first turning away strong appeals when Anthony Golec brought down Nawaf Al Abid inside the area with a minute to go in the first half.

Antony Golec was deemed not to have made contact in the box on this occasion (Getty)

The ball then struck the raised arm of Brendon Santalab eight minutes into the second half, before Covic felled Salman Al Faraj in the 65th minute.

Amazingly, the Japanese official – heavily criticised for awarding Brazil the softest of spot-kicks in the opening match of the 2014 World Cup against Croatia – was unmoved on each occasion.

As tension grew, Al-Hilal continued to press and Al Qahtani thought he had given his side a vital goal late on, only for Covic to perform heroics.

That was enough for Wanderers to lift the title, as it went one better than Adelaide United’s defeat in the 2008 showpiece.

The win seals a spot in the 2014 FIFA Club World Cup for the Wanderers next month.

“It’s a special group to coach. They’ve made history. It will sink in in a few days,” Popovic said.

“I’m very proud of the players. Marvelous achievement for the players, club and Australian football.”

Wanderers coach Popovic cuts loose (Getty)