Al Ahli reach third AFC Champions League Elite final

Al Ahli reached the AFC Champions League Elite final for the third time in their history after an emphatic 3-1 victory against fellow Roshn Saudi League side Al Hilal in front of 50,613 fans in Jeddah on Tuesday.

Continuing an incredible unbeaten run in the competition this season, Al Ahli had last reached the final in 2012, coincidentally also having beaten another Saudi team in the semi-final – city rivals Al Ittihad. They previously also contested the showpiece in 1986, losing to Korean sides on both occasions.

On Tuesday, at a atmospheric Alinma Stadium, Al Ahli’s Brazilian trio combined inside seven minutes to send their fans into raptures.

Roger Ibanez drove forward and fed Galeno down the left, the former Porto man accelerating past his marker and crossing from the byline for club captain Roberto Firmino, who swept home to ball first time for the opener.

The Jeddah side doubled their lead not long before the half-hour mark and did so in style. Riyad Mahrez picked up the ball down the middle and supplied an exceptional through pass for Ivan Toney.

The England international, in his debut season at the club, intelligently rounded goalkeeper Yassine Bono and rolled the ball into the net despite Kalidou Koulibaly’s desperate attempts to clear.

However, right before half time, a mistake from Franck Kessie saw the Ivory Coast captain lose the ball on the edge of the Al Ahli area, which was instantly punished by Saudi Arabia and Al Hilal captain Salem Al Dawsari.

The in-form forward snatched the ball and fired home for his 10th goal of the continental campaign, moving past Mahrez as the top scorer of the 2024-25 AFC Champions League Elite.

Toney thought he had restored the two-goal cushion early in the second half when he got to the ball first and finished past Bono from close range, but the summer-window signing was deemed to have strayed into an offside position.

A raucous celebration by Al Ahli fans was once more cut short minutes later, as Toney stabbed home Ezgjan Alioski’s delivery from the left. However, this time it was the former Leeds United full-back who was offside in the build-up.

Only seconds after manager Jorge Jesus had made two substitutions, his Al Hilal side suffered a major blow with Koulibaly collecting a second yellow card, following a heavy challenge on Roger Ibanez.

Having been booked in the first half for a similar incident against Toney, it left Al Hilal to play the final 30 minutes with 10 men. Youngster Kaio Cesar was left in tears as he was subsequently taken off just eight minutes after his introduction, as Jesus looked to bring Hassan Tambakti as a defensive option.

The home fans were then left in disbelief after the left-hand post denied Al Ahli three times, including twice in one attack.

Firmino’s poked shot that beat Bono but bounced off the upright then deflected off Toney for Mahrez, who looked to apply the finish but stuck it against the same upright. Minutes later, it was Galeno’s turn to watch his effort rebound off the woodwork.

Seven minutes from time, Al Ahli were awarded a penalty after substitute Hamad Al Yami tripped Mahrez inside the Al Hilal penalty area. Kessie stepped up to take it, but was denied by a fantastic Bono save to keep Al Hilal’s hopes alive.

A moment of magic in the dying embers, though, saw Feras Al Buraikan create history seconds after entering the pitch to replace Firmino.

The Saudi international forward picked up Toney’s pass and buried it into the net as the roof of Alinma Stadium was shattered with the joy of the Al Ahli faithful celebrating confirmation of their place in the final.

A potential all-RSL final is still on the cards, with Al Nassr taking on Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale in the second semi-final on Wednesday.