Saudi club Al-Ahli has secured a spot in the semifinals of the AFC Champions League Elite, where they are set to face Japan's Vissel Kobe. This advancement comes after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Malaysia's Johor Darul Ta'zim on Friday, a match marked by adversity, including an own goal conceded early on and a subsequent red card for Al-Ahli defender Ali Majrashi. The team managed to rally, with a late equalizer from Franck Kessie ultimately securing their progression.
Al-Ahli stands as the sole Saudi Arabian representative remaining in the competition's final four. They will contest their semifinal match against Vissel Kobe on Monday, April 21st, with kickoff scheduled for 2:15 AM AEST.
Navigating a Difficult Path
The confrontation with Johor Darul Ta'zim presented significant challenges for Al-Ahli. An own goal by Ali Majrashi in the 19th minute put the Malaysian side ahead. Soon after, Majrashi received a red card, leaving Al-Ahli to play with ten men for a substantial portion of the match. Despite this disadvantage, the team, under the guidance of German manager Matthias Jaissle, mounted a comeback. Franck Kessie's header from a corner in first-half stoppage time equalized the score. The decisive goal came later, ensuring their passage to the semifinals.
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Al-Ahli's journey to this stage has been described as one of "resilience and strong tactical leadership," even with "injuries to some of their key players." The team has demonstrated a capacity to "fight" and "compete," a sentiment echoed by observers who noted the team's "struggle" in their quarterfinal match.
Other Semifinal Fixture
In the other semifinal pairing, Japan's Machida Zelvia, a debutant in the tournament, will face Shabab Al-Ahli from the United Arab Emirates. Machida Zelvia previously achieved a notable upset by defeating two-time winners and defending Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad 1-0. Shabab Al-Ahli advanced to the semifinals after defeating Buriram United of Thailand 3-2 on Saturday.
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Tournament Context
Al-Ahli, the reigning champions, lifted the trophy for the first time last May. The current edition of the competition is referred to as the 'AFC Champions League Elite'. The knockout stages for Al-Ahli's quarterfinal were hosted in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah. Vissel Kobe previously secured their semifinal berth by winning a penalty shootout against Qatar's Al Sadd after a 3-3 draw in their quarterfinal match.
