Al Ahli Saudi, a club from Saudi Arabia edge first spot of finalist after beating Al Hilal scoring 3-1 in the AFC Champions League Elite 2024/25 Semi-Final at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Jeddah.
In what was billed as a high-stakes clash between two Saudi giants, Al Ahli proved relentless in front of their home crowd, combining tactical precision with electrifying pace to dismantle the four-time Asian champions.
The match sparked into life within the first five minutes, with Ivan Toney narrowly heading wide from a Riyad Mahrez free-kick, while Ezgjan Alioski and Ali Majrashi were booked early, setting the tone for a fiercely contested encounter.
But the hosts weren’t rattled. In the 9th minute, Roger Ibanez sent a long ball forward that seemed destined to go out—until Galeno ignited his afterburners to keep it alive and cut it back for Roberto Firmino, who calmly side-footed home the opener.
With Al Hilal struggling to deal with the attacking waves, Franck Kessie nearly doubled the lead but was denied by a superb reflex save from Yassine Bounou. The pressure finally told again in the 27th minute, when Mahrez curled a pinpoint ball into Toney’s path, and the England international rounded Bounou to slot home Al Ahli’s second.
Al Hilal responded with urgency and were rewarded just before halftime. A rare mistake from Kessie allowed Salem Al Dawsari to pounce and rifle home his 10th goal of the tournament, bringing his side back into the tie at 2-1.
The intensity didn’t drop after the break, with both sides going full throttle. Toney found the net twice more, only for both efforts to be ruled offside. But in the 59th minute, Kalidou Koulibaly—already on a booking—brought down the surging Ibanez and received his marching orders, reducing Al Hilal to ten men.
Al Ahli turned up the pressure, with the woodwork denying Firmino, Mahrez, and Galeno in quick succession. Bounou again stood tall with a remarkable save from Kessie’s penalty attempt in the 85th minute.
However, there was no stopping the Jeddah club. Deep into stoppage time, substitute Feras Albrikan sealed the victory with a third goal, sending the home fans into jubilation and confirming Al Ahli’s spot in the final.
Credit Photo : HongZheng Lim/SNE-Photo
