JEDDAH: A superb performance by Al Ahli Saudi FC earneda 3-1 win over Al Hilal in the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League Elite Finals at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.

Played in front of 50,613 fans, the last four tie was a classic with Al Ahli simply the better side as they reached the continental final for a second time, with either fellow Saudi Pro League rivals Al Nassr Club or Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale their opponents on Saturday, with first time winners to be crowned.

Al Hilalwere reduced to 10 men just before the hour mark, as their campaign ended at the semi-final stage for the second successive season.

The tie was always going to be a tense affair with the opening five minutes not only seeing Ivan Toney heading a Riyad Mahrez free-kick wide but also yellow cards for Al Ahli’s Ezgjan Alioksi and Ali Majrashi.
Backed by their fans, the Jeddah-based club remained undaunted by the early cautions and continued to pile on the pressure which paid off in the ninth minute.

Roger Ibanez played the ball over Al Hilal’s defence but it looked to be heading out, only for a determined Galeno to turn on his afterburners, retrieve it before laying a perfect cutback for Roberto Firmino to sidefoot home.

Such was Al Ahli’s dominance that Al Hilal were defending almost desperately at times – goalkeeper Yassine Bounou having to pull off a one-handed save to deny Franck Kessie.

The Moroccan international, however, could do nothing when Al Ahli came calling again in the 27th minute.

Mahrez brilliantly picked out Toney’s run with the England forward then evading the onrushing Bounou to slide the ball into the net as the green section of the stadium erupted into raptures.

Stung by the second goal, Al Hilal injected more urgency in their game but it wasn’t until the 31st minute that the four-time Asian champions had their first sight at goal but Marcos Leonardo couldn’t steer his shot on target.

Al Hilal’s improvement, however, was rewarded in the 42nd minute when a poor touch from Kessie was immediately pounced on by Salem Al Dawsari, who blasted his attempt past Edouard Mendy for his 10th goal of the campaign.

With both sides not holding back, the match threatened to boil over as the first half entered stoppage time with Al Hilal’s Kalidou Koulibaly and Al Ahli’s Merih Demiral shown yellow cards while an Al Hilal official was sent off.

The match continued to be played at a breathtaking pace after the break with Toney twice sending the ball into the back of the net but on both occasions, his efforts were ruled out for offside.

With Al Ahli looking dangerous each time they ventured forward, Koulibaly’s first half caution came back to haunt him in the 59th minute after the Senegalese international brought down the the marauding Ibanez, giving referee Adham Makhadmeh no choice but to flash a second yellow as Al Hilal’s hopes suffered a body blow.

Al Ahli capitalised on their numerical advantage and could have added to their lead on three separate occasions but each time, the woodwork denied Firmino, Mahrez and Galeno.

Bounou then pulled out an incredible stop to deny Kessie from 12 yards in the 85th minute but Feras Albrikan came off the bench in stoppage time to strike the third for Al Ahli, capping a truly magnificent performance.

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