Al Ahli brush aside Buriram United to set up all-Saudi semi-final

Manager Matthias Jaissle heaped praise on the Al Ahli fans after the Roshn Saudi League representatives brushed aside Thai champions Buriram United 3-0 in front of 43,027 fans at Alinma Stadium in Jeddah to confirm an all-Saudi AFC Champions League Elite semi-final clash against Al Hilal.

“The fans were a source of strength for us tonight,” said the German tactician, whose side struck twice inside the opening six minutes to put themselves in a comfortable position for the remainder of the tie.

“They helped us push forward and allowed us to control the rhythm of the game. Now we have to immediately switch our focus to the next match against Al Hilal.”

Al Ahli's victory was achieved thanks to Jaissle’s trademark high press being applied from the get-go; on four minutes, Galeno won possession just outside the Buriram United penalty area, allowing Roberto Firmino to send Riyad Mahrez through on ball.

The in-form Algerian duly swept home with his weaker right foot for the opener. It marked Mahrez's ninth goal in the tournament this season, moving the Al Ahli winger to the top of the scoring charts and into a four-way tie that includes Al Hilal's Salem Al Dawsari.

Almost instantly after the goal, centre-back Roger Ibanez demonstrated his quality in build-up play, carrying the ball forward and providing a defence-splitting pass Brazilian compatriot Galeno, who coolly slotted between the goalkeeper’s legs to make it 2-0.

Al Ahli survived a scare soon after when a VAR review reversed a penalty decision for the Thai side, when Ghanaian forward Martin Boakye claimed to have been fouled inside the area by Merih Demiral.

However, the margin was widened at the half-hour mark when Mahrez whipped a corner towards the far post that was nodded on by Demiral and into the path of Firmino, who buried it home at the far post from close range for Al Ahli's third.

A routine second half saw Jaissle’s man dictate the tempo while preserving their energy ahead of another vital encounter with compatriots Al Hilal on Tuesday, which pits against one another the second- and four-placed teams in the 2024-25 RSL.