The final round of matches in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League Elite's league stage was nothing short of dramatic. Saudi Arabian side Al Ahli surged to the top of the West Zone standings with a compelling 4-2 home victory against Qatari club Al Gharafa.
The match kicked off with a tense start as Al Ahli was penalized just four minutes in when Matteo Dams was flagged for a handball in the box. Capitalizing on the opportunity, former Real Madrid striker Joselu converted the ensuing penalty, giving Al Gharafa an early lead.
However, Al Ahli quickly responded. A well-executed long ball found Riyad Mahrez, who skillfully bypassed the offside trap to set up Ivan Toney. Toney's second attempt at goal was successful, leveling the score and igniting the home crowd.
The momentum shifted further in favor of Al Ahli when Roberto Firmino scored the second goal for the home side just 13 minutes later, extending their lead to 2-1.
Al Gharafa struggled to keep pace, and an error from Al Ahli goalkeeper Sergio Rico allowed Galeno's powerful shot to slip through, making it 3-1 in favor of the hosts with barely a minute left in the first half.
The second half saw Qatar concede another penalty following Jamal Hamed's foul on Toney. Mahrez stepped up once more, sending Rico the wrong way to score his second goal of the evening, solidifying Al Ahli's commanding position at 4-1.
Yacine Brahimi added a consolation goal for Al Gharafa in the 80th minute from the penalty spot, but it was too little, too late. The 4-2 victory not only elevated Al Ahli to the top of the West Zone but also dashed Al Gharafa's hopes of making it into the top eight. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan's Pakhtakor clinched a spot in the last 16, adding an extra layer of excitement to the tournament's progression.
With three points clear of Saudi rivals Al Hilal, who are set to face UAE club Al Wasl on Tuesday night, Al Ahli's impressive performance underscores their strong ambitions in the AFC Champions League Elite.
Reference(s):
Al Ahli rise to top of West Zone, edge Al Gharafa out in ACL Elite
cgtn.com
