Defending champions Al Ahli SC demonstrated exactly why they hold the continental crown, staging a breathtaking second-half comeback with only 10 men to defeat Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’Zim 2-1 in a dramatic AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26 quarter-final at King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah.
While the Saudi Arabian heavyweights arrived with the momentum of reigning champions, the Southern Tigers entered the pitch aiming to script history. Ultimately, star power and sheer resilience prevailed, ending JDT’s fairytale run in Asia’s premier club competition.
Al-Ahli unleashed their attacking riches from the first whistle, with former Manchester City maestro Riyad Mahrez pulling the strings alongside Ivan Toney, Galeno, and Matheus Goncalves.
However, as Al-Ahli head coach Matthias Jaissle had predicted, JDT did not crumble. The Malaysian champions executed a highly disciplined game plan, expertly absorbing the relentless Saudi pressure.
Against the run of play, JDT stunned the home crowd in the 19th minute. A defensive mix-up forced Al-Ahli’s Ali Majrashi to inadvertently turn the ball into his own net, handing Harimau Selatan a shock 1-0 advantage.
Disaster struck again for Al-Ahli in the 37th minute. In a desperate bid to clear the ball, Majrashi’s boot made dangerous contact with the head of JDT striker Jairo da Silva. The referee immediately brandished a straight red card, reducing the hosts to 10 men.
A tense atmosphere descended upon the stadium as Jairo received emergency medical treatment on the pitch for several minutes before being stretchered off. JDT head coach Xisco Munoz was forced to introduce Ager Aketche as a replacement.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Al-Ahli struck a critical psychological blow just before the halftime whistle. Ivorian powerhouse Franck Kessie found the back of the net to ensure both sides went into the break deadlocked at 1-1.
Emerging from the tunnel for the second half, Al-Ahli continued to press JDT as if they still had 11 men on the pitch.
The Saudi fans erupted in the 58th minute when Galeno unleashed a beautiful, unstoppable strike to give Al-Ahli a 2-1 lead. Having secured the advantage, Jaissle’s men immediately shifted gears, dropping deep into a defensive block to protect their hard-earned lead.
In a final roll of the dice, JDT threw on attacking reinforcements, including Yago Cesar and the club’s all-time top scorer Bergson da Silva, desperately hunting for an equalizer. However, the Saudi defensive wall held firm until the final whistle.
Al-Ahli Saudi, the defending champions, advance to a mouth-watering semi-final showdown against Japanese giants Vissel Kobe.
JDT bows out of the ACLE with their heads held high. Xisco Munoz’s squad will now shift their entire focus back to domestic dominance, eyeing the remainder of the Super League, the Piala Malaysia final, and their upcoming Shopee Cup semi-final.
Credit Photo : JST
