Latest news with #Ahli
Qatar Tribune
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Bareiro brace as Rayyan beat Al Ahli to storm into Amir Cup final
Tribune News Network Doha A brace from Adam Bareiro and a penalty strike from Roger Guedes saw an attacking Al Rayyan blank Al Ahli 3-0 to storm into the final of HH Amir Cup football final at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Sunday. Bareiro struck the opening goal in the 30th minute following a free kick and the Ahli defenders' attempts to clear the ball. But after a header and a deflection, the ball fell into a vacant space and Bareiro snatched the chance to strike with his left foot into the left corner of the net past a diving goalkeeper. Bareiro doubled the lead for Al Rayyan seven minutes later while he chested the ball after a long throw-in lob and turned about to beat a marking defender and then the goalkeeper. Al Rayyan attacked more in the second half keeping the Ahli defence on their toes. In the 86th minute, Al Rayyan's Hashim Shehata was fouled by Driss Fettouhi while leaping for a cross in front of the goal and the referee ruled a penalty. Guedes, who took the spot kick, struck firmly into the right side of the goal much to the agony of Al Ahli. On Monday, Umm Salal will meet Al Gharafa in the second semi-final at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium at 7pm.
The National
05-05-2025
- Sport
- The National
AFC Champions League Elite format change: was new centralised finals event in Saudi Arabia a success?
The Asian Football Confederation might be an independent overseer of the game on the continent. But if they were not actively hoping Al Ahli made it all the way to this season's AFC Champions League Elite final, then they will at least have breathed a sigh of relief that they ultimately did. After all, the regional governing body had taken a risk when they opted to reinvent their premier club competition, and play a new finals event at one centralised hub. Gone are the guarantees of crowds that were inherent in the old format, where the final was played in home and away legs. As we saw when Al Ain beat Yokohama F Marinos at a packed Hazza bin Zayed Stadium to clinch last year's final. This time around, the last four surviving teams from East Asia, and the same from the West, travelled to Jeddah to player the quarters, semis and final. The final was set for King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, the magnificent 62,000-seater structure around 30 minutes from Jeddah's city centre. When Al Ahli – or their city rivals Al Ittihad – play at the ground informally known as The Jewel, it pulsates with the sort of atmosphere that has few rivals anywhere in world football. So it stood to reason it would pop once Ahli made it all the way to the final. Their 2-0 win over Kawasaki Frontale on Saturday was an epic event. The atmosphere had been whipped into a frenzy over the course of the eight-day finals schedule. By the end, the city was enraptured by it. Jeddah was brought, if not quite to a standstill, then at least a very slow crawl. As traffic crept towards the stadium for the final, entrepreneurs hawked green and white scarfs, armed with card readers for quicker transactions. Thousands of ticketless supporters surged on the gates, leading for them to be closed while the security operation was beefed up. Once the hometown club had sealed their first Asian title, via goals from Galeno and Franck Kessie, joy coursed through the stands. As the stage for the trophy ceremony was being set, a number of players ran off to the dressing room to get their phones to record the celebrations. Riyad Mahrez took photos of his daughter on the stage. Ivan Toney made off with two match balls to give to his kids. And Ali Majrashi, the Ahli full-back and fan favourite, was crying tears of happiness. All of which is fantastic. But it does beg the question, what would it have been like had the final been played out between a side from Japan and one from South Korea, for example? Or even an Emirati, Qatari or Iranian club? There would have been as much tumbleweed as tickertape. Even when Al Nassr – a Riyadh-based club who have the sport's most recognisable player, Cristiano Ronaldo, in their ranks – faced Kawasaki Frontale in the semi-final, the ground was less than half full. The first phase of the competition was also revamped this year, along similar lines to the larger league structures than Uefa have done in Europe, too. There was then a round of double-legged ties – as the knock-out stage formerly was – in the last 16, as a bridge between the league phase and the finals. The three teams from Saudi Arabia topped the West zone, and they made it through their last 16 ties, too. Having Ahli and Al Hilal – another Riyadh club, but who have fans all over Saudi Arabia – in the finals phase guaranteed a decent turn out. The event will culminate in Jeddah again next year, and there are tweaks that can be made. For example, it would be fairer if the four quarter-finals are played over the space of two days, rather than three. Kawasaki, the winners of the last quarter-final, had to play all three matches within the space of six days. That is two days less than Hilal, who won the first quarter-final, would have had had they made it to the final. The tight schedule realistically favours the sides with the biggest budgets and therefore the bigger squads. You might assume that to be the Saudi Arabian clubs, but Kawasaki disproved that theory, thanks to clever management. They made six changes to their starting XI between the quarter-final and semi. They then made two more substitutions at half time in that game against Nassr, and had used all five replacements before 70 minutes were on the clock. It was all part of a perfectly executed masterplan by their coach, Shigetoshi Hasebe, who brought about the downfall of Ronaldo and Co. No wonder the club's fans love him. Ahead of the final, they were waving a sign carrying his image, with the message: 'Hasebe Frontale.' His expertise could only take them so far, and they were beaten by the best team in the competition in the final. Ahli definitely benefited from having such vociferous backing in the final, and they will be excited by the prospect of havening similar for their defence next season. Whether anyone from beyond Saudi Arabia - particularly those who have to travel from the other side of the continent - can mount a challenge is going to be intriguing to see.
The National
04-05-2025
- Sport
- The National
Roberto Firmino salutes Al Ahli's mentality after AFC Champions League victory
Roberto Firmino said Al Ahli Saudi had shown a 'monster mentality' in becoming champions of Asia for the first time. The Brazilian forward added another continental trophy to the one he had won in Europe when he played for Liverpool. He was named player of the match as Ahli beat Kawasaki Frontale of Japan 2-0 in the final of the AFC Champions League Elite at their own home ground in Jeddah. In so doing they became the third Saudi club to become champions of Asia, following Al Hilal – who they beat in the semi-final on Tuesday – and their city rivals Al Ittihad. 'I am very happy and proud of the team, and of course very happy to make history here at this club,' Firmino, the Ahli captain, said. 'It is not easy to become champions. We fight every match, and I call it the monster mentality. When you have the monster mentality to win all the games, then you become champions.' Firmino and Riyad Mahrez became the first players to win the top prize in each of Europe and Asia. They had previously done so at Liverpool and Manchester City respectively. 'This is why we play football, to play in matches like this,' Mahrez said. 'It is the first time for Al Ahli Club to win the Champions League. That was the aim. When we came here we wanted to make Al Ahli top of Asia and that is what we did. 'We played so good throughout the competition. We knew today would be a tricky game but we were so strong and so focused. 'That is how you win trophies and we are so happy. Now we have to celebrate and enjoy with family, friends.' The title success was vindication for Mattias Jaissle, the club's German manager. The 37-year-old coach was on the brink of the sack at the start of this year, with Massimiliano Allegri lined up as a high-profile replacement. However, the club's fans forced the powers that be to reconsidered, and the side have thrived in the time since. 'The incredible fans totally deserved this as well,' Jaissle said. 'It is nice to give something back to all the supporters, especially the ones who were always there, even when there were ups and downs. 'It is never easy. There is a lot of pressure in such a match, and the way the players dealt with it is not normal. They showed great personality.' Jaissle pointed out that his side were deserving champions. They went undefeated throughout the campaign, finishing second in the group phase on goal difference behind Al Hilal, who were the side they beat in the semi-final. 'I'm so proud of how they played throughout the journey in this competition,' Jaissle said. 'They put all their effort into that, and also the fans who always created an amazing atmosphere in support. We never took that for granted. 'Together you can achieve special things, and that is what happened tonight. I am almost speechless, but also all the respect for our opponents. 'Overall, to be frank, we totally deserved it.'
Leaders
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Leaders
Photo Gallery: Al-Ahli Claim AFC Champions League Elite Title
Home / Sport / Photo Gallery: Al-Ahli Claim AFC Champions League Elite Title Sport Trending Ahmed Ghandour Send an email 57 mins ago 0 Less than a minute Ahli players pose for a photo ahead of their AFC Champions League final against Kawasaki of Japan. Photo: Al-Ahli's official X account Al-Ahli devoted fans celebrate before the game. Photo: Al-Ahli's official X account Al-Ahli plyers greet their fans before the game. Photo: Al-Ahli's official X account Who can stop Al-Ahli's Franck Kessie? Photo: Al-Ahli's official X account. Al-Ahli's Galeno celebrates after scoring his side's first goal. Photo: Al-Ahli's official X account. Al-Ahli players celebrate the second goal. Photo: Al-Ahli's official X account. Al-Ahli striker Ivan Toney controls the ball. Photo: Al-Ahli's official X account. Al-Ahli defender Roger Ibañez blocks the ball before it turns into a dangerous scoring opportunity for Japan's Kawasaki. Photo: Al-Ahli's official X account. Ahli's players celebrate winning the AFC Champions League final match between Saudi's Al-Ahli and Japan's Kawasaki at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah on May 3, 2025. Ahli's English forward #99 Ivan Toney celebrates with his medal afer winning the AFC Champions League final match between Saudi's Al-Ahli and Japan's Kawasaki at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah on May 3, 2025. Ahli's Algerian forward #07 Riyad Mahrez celebrates with his daughter after winning the AFC Champions League final match between Saudi's Al-Ahli and Japan's Kawasaki at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah on May 3, 2025. Ahli's players celebrate with the trophy after the AFC Champions League final match between Saudi's Al-Ahli and Japan's Kawasaki at King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah on May 3, 2025. Short link : Post Views: 78 Tags AFC Champions League Al Ahli Franck Kessie Ivan Toney Roberto Firmino
The National
03-05-2025
- Sport
- The National
AFC Champions League final: Al Ahli outclass Kawasaki Frontale to seal first Asian crown
Al Ahli Saudi have become the champions of Asia for the first time after they outclassed Kawasaki Frontale at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah. They became the third side from Saudi to claim the mantle of the continent's best side, after winning the AFC Champions League Elite final 2-0 in the port city. They had been the best side throughout the campaign, and especially so once the new, centralised finals event decamped to their home patch. They followed wins over Buriram United in Saturday's quarter-final, and against Saudi rivals Al Hilal in Wednesday's semi-final, with a dominant display against the side from Japan. To say it was well received, given that the trophy they have craved for so long was finally delivered in their home stadium, understates it. The official attendance was given as 58,281, but it felt certain there were far more inside 'The Jewel', as the stadium is affectionately known. The gates were shut two hours before the game as a number of ticketless fans were attempting to enter. When they were later opened with a beefed-up security presence, thousands rushed the gates. It made for an extraordinary atmosphere, even by this city's standards. The fans of Jeddah's two clubs, Ahli and Al Ittihad – who, along with Hilal, are the other Saudi side to have won this title – are known for being the most raucous in the Gulf region. If the noise during Ahli's semi-final win was loud, it was amplified massively for the final. Realistically, the resistance the small group of travelling fans were putting up was largely futile. The sound from the home fans was deafening. But the 300 or so away fans still did their best to be heard. They even had a smart little sign of their own which they unveiled as a gigantic banner was unfurled across three tiers in the home end, and a massive tifo ran all the way along the stands to the side. On it was a picture of their smiling coach, Shigetoshi Hasebe, accompanied by the message: 'Hasebe Frontale'. Hasebe has a tough act to live up to. His predecessor won four titles in five seasons for Kawasaki but the incumbent has won many admirers – not just among his own club's fan base – during their run to this final. Talking of high approval ratings, the biggest roars at the start were reserved for Ali Majrashi, the Ahli right back. In the 15th minute, he gave Marcinho, the Kawasaki left-winger, a mouthful after he snubbed out an attack. The Brazilian looked nonplussed – he had done nothing wrong – but Majrashi had been amped since way before the start. His name received the largest roar when the teams were read out. And as the team lined up, arms linked, on the 18-yard line in front of the Ahli ultras, he belted out the team song with the fans. The home fans hardly needed to be whipped into any more of a fervour. Amid the bedlam, the Ahli players took some time to settled. Despite that, they shaded the early exchanges, but it took them till the 35th minute to break to deadlock. And it took a special strike to do it. Galeno provided the magic, curving a bouncing ball into the very top right corner of the goal. Louis Yamaguchi, the Kawasaki goalkeeper, had no chance. The Saudi outfit took control of the game seven minutes later when Franck Kessie doubled the advantage, heading in from close range after great endeavour from Roberto Firmino on the right-hand side. Just after the hour mark, Riyad Mahrez had the chance to put the tie to bed, when a fast break up the Ahli left ended with the ball trickling into his path on the right side of the box. It fell on his less assured right foot, though, and the former Manchester City winger blazed wide. Kawasaki battled on, but it was in vain. Bayed on by such vociferous support, the Ahli players were never going to let them down.
