Al Ahli Reaches AFC Champions League Final Led by Firmino, Toney, Al Buraikan
Roberto Firmino and Ivan Toney propelled Al Ahli into the AFC Champions League Elite final with a 3-1 win over fellow Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal on Tuesday. The Jeddah team, effectively enjoying home advantage with the later stages of the...
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Roberto Firmino and Ivan Toney propelled Al Ahli into the AFC Champions League Elite final with a 3-1 win over fellow Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal on Tuesday.
The Jeddah team, effectively enjoying home advantage with the later stages of the tournament taking place in the port city, is set to face either Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr or Japan's Kawasaki Frontale on Saturday as they pursue Asia's premier club trophy.
Al Ahli started strong at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium. In the ninth minute, Brazilian winger Galeno sped to the byline and delivered a precise cutback to Firmino, who finished with authority.
The former Liverpool striker, who captains Al Ahli despite not being eligible to play in their Saudi Pro League matches, increased his tournament goal tally to six.
Al Ahli doubled their lead just before the half-hour mark when Riyad Mahrez played Toney through on goal with a pinpoint, defense-splitting pass, allowing the Englishman to evade goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and roll the ball into the net.
Toney, who joined from English Premier League club Brentford this summer, now shares the scoring spotlight with Firmino. Meanwhile, ex-Leicester and Manchester City winger Mahrez leads the tournament in assists, boasting eight.
Al Hilal, the record four-time Asian champions, managed to reduce the deficit three minutes before halftime when captain Salem Al Dawsari capitalized on an unintentional touch from Al Ahli midfielder Franck Kessie, blasting home his 10th goal of the campaign, placing him atop the scoring chart.
The second half was filled with intensity, featuring Toney having two goals disallowed for offside, Firmino and Galeno striking the post, and Al Hilal going down to 10 men right before the hour mark when former Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly received a second yellow card after fouling Roger Ibañez.
Kessie had his 85th-minute penalty saved by Bounou after Mahrez was brought down in the area, but substitute Feras Al Buraikan ensured the victory deep into stoppage time, shortly after entering the match.
Having been runners-up in 2012 during their only previous final appearance, Al Ahli continues to be the only unbeaten team in this season's competition.
Al Nassr and Kawasaki Frontale are set to clash in the other semifinal on Wednesday, also at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, leaving the possibility of an all-Saudi championship showdown.
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
The Jeddah team, effectively enjoying home advantage with the later stages of the tournament taking place in the port city, is set to face either Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr or Japan's Kawasaki Frontale on Saturday as they pursue Asia's premier club trophy.
Al Ahli started strong at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium. In the ninth minute, Brazilian winger Galeno sped to the byline and delivered a precise cutback to Firmino, who finished with authority.
The former Liverpool striker, who captains Al Ahli despite not being eligible to play in their Saudi Pro League matches, increased his tournament goal tally to six.
Al Ahli doubled their lead just before the half-hour mark when Riyad Mahrez played Toney through on goal with a pinpoint, defense-splitting pass, allowing the Englishman to evade goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and roll the ball into the net.
Toney, who joined from English Premier League club Brentford this summer, now shares the scoring spotlight with Firmino. Meanwhile, ex-Leicester and Manchester City winger Mahrez leads the tournament in assists, boasting eight.
Al Hilal, the record four-time Asian champions, managed to reduce the deficit three minutes before halftime when captain Salem Al Dawsari capitalized on an unintentional touch from Al Ahli midfielder Franck Kessie, blasting home his 10th goal of the campaign, placing him atop the scoring chart.
The second half was filled with intensity, featuring Toney having two goals disallowed for offside, Firmino and Galeno striking the post, and Al Hilal going down to 10 men right before the hour mark when former Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly received a second yellow card after fouling Roger Ibañez.
Kessie had his 85th-minute penalty saved by Bounou after Mahrez was brought down in the area, but substitute Feras Al Buraikan ensured the victory deep into stoppage time, shortly after entering the match.
Having been runners-up in 2012 during their only previous final appearance, Al Ahli continues to be the only unbeaten team in this season's competition.
Al Nassr and Kawasaki Frontale are set to clash in the other semifinal on Wednesday, also at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, leaving the possibility of an all-Saudi championship showdown.
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
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