Vissel Kobe has booked their ticket to the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26 semi-finals after surviving an absolute rollercoaster against Qatari heavyweights Al Sadd SC in the Quarter-Final clash at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium, Jeddah.
Despite coming off a grueling Round of 16 shootout win over Al Hilal just three days prior, Roberto Mancini’s Al Sadd started with explosive intent.
The Qataris drew first blood in the 6th minute through a lethal counterattack. A brilliant sequence involving Roberto Firmino and Claudinho freed up Akram Afif, who unselfishly fed Rafa Mujica. The Spaniard clinically buried the ball into the bottom corner to make it 1-0.
Vissel Kobe roared back into the contest in the 24th minute. Gotoku Sakai charged down the right flank, whipping a pinpoint cross right onto the head of an unmarked Yuya Osako, who powered his effort past Meshaal Barsham to level the score.
The second half exploded into life when Al Sadd seemingly put the game to bed with a devastating four-minute blitz.
In the 61st minute, Claudinho’s lofted pass found Firmino, who audaciously chested it perfectly into the path of Rafa Mujica. The striker swept a beautiful volley past Kobe keeper Daiya Maekawa.
After four minutes, Afif launched a devastating long ball to Mujica, who turned provider, teeing up Roberto Firmino for a classy side-foot volley finish. At 3-1, the Qatari side looked destined for the semis.
But Vissel Kobe refused to die. In the 74th minute, Yusuke Ideguchi dragged a low, right-footed strike into the bottom corner after being set up by Jean Patric. Then, in the dying breaths of the game (90+3′), Yoshinori Muto sparked sheer pandemonium, racing to the near post to nod home Rikuto Hirose’s cross and force extra time.
The additional 30 minutes became “The Daiya Maekawa Show.” The Vissel Kobe shot-stopper produced a string of miraculous saves, denying Javairo Dilrosun with a flying acrobatic stop in the 102nd minute, shutting down Afif a minute later, and stoning Dilrosun once again with just five minutes remaining.
Maekawa’s heroics allowed Kobe to reach the shootout, where the pressure ultimately consumed Al Sadd. In the third round of spot-kicks, Claudinho fired his attempt high over the crossbar, setting the stage for Jean Patric to rifle the winning penalty into the top corner, sealing a famous 5-4 shootout triumph.
Vissel Kobe now awaits the winner of Friday’s blockbuster clash at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium. They will face either defending champions Al Ahli Saudi or Malaysia kings Johor Darul Ta’Zim in what promises to be a titanic semi-final showdown.
Credit Photo : AFC
