Al-Ahli beat Al Duhail 1-0 after extra time in the first leg of the AFC round of 16 Champions League Elite. The goal came in the 117th minute with Riyad Mahrez a free kick. The game took place this Monday on King Abdullah Sports City, on Jeddah, on Arábia Saudita. The score remained zero during normal time and most of the extra time.
The teams created few clear chances over the 120 minutes. Al-Ahli pressed more in the second half, but found it difficult to break through the opponent’s defense. Al Duhail organized well in marking and tried counterattacks, without success. The decision was made in the final minutes of extra time.
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Starting lineup and substitutions
Al-Ahli started with Édouard Mendy in goal, Mohammed Abdulrahman, Rayan Hamed, Roger Ibañez and Zakaria Al Hawsawi in defense. Franck Kessié and Ziyad Aljohani played in the middle, with Riyad Mahrez, Enzo Millot, Wenderson Galeno and Mohammed Abdulrahman0 in attack. The team made substitutions throughout the match, including Mohammed Abdulrahman1, Mohammed Abdulrahman2, Mohammed Abdulrahman3, Mohammed Abdulrahman4-Buraikan and Mohammed Abdulrahman5.
Al Duhail lined up with Salah Zakaria in goal, Youssouf Sabaly, Tuta, Jean-Charles Castelletto and Sultan Al Brake in defense. Ibrahim Bamba, Edmílson Junior, Benjamin Bourigeaud, Salah Zakaria0 and Salah Zakaria1 formed the midfield and attack, with Salah Zakaria2 further forward. The club carried out exchanges with players such as Salah Zakaria3-Buraikan and other reserves.
- Mohammed Abdulrahman left in the 86th minute
- Enzo Millot left the field in the 91st minute
- Ziyad Aljohani was substituted in the 106th minute
- Zakaria Al Hawsawi gave way to Firas Al-Buraikan in the 115th minute
- Riyad Mahrez was substituted in the 120th minute
Normal time performance
The first half ended goalless. The two teams alternated possession of the ball, but the shots stopped at the defenses or the goalkeeper. Al-Ahli tried to explore the sides with Galeno and Mahrez, while Al Duhail bet on quick transitions through the middle.
In the second half, the pace dropped. Al-Ahli increased the pressure in search of the goal, but Al Duhail closed down and avoided great opportunities. Nenhuma of the teams managed to convert the chances created. The score remained tied and took the game to extra time.
Decision on extension
Extra time started with the most tired teams. Aos 117 minutes, Al-Ahli was awarded a free kick on the edge of the area. Riyad Mahrez took the ball with his left foot and placed the ball in the low right corner, with no chance for the goalkeeper. Foi The only goal of the match.
Al Duhail tried to react in the final minutes, but did not create enough danger. The referee ended the game after extra time. Al-Ahli left with the minimal victory and an advantage for the second leg.
Where to watch live
The match was broadcast on Disney+ on Brasil and in other markets with rights. Canais sports like ESPN also followed the duel with a live signal in some regions. The AFC made coverage official on its digital platforms.
Recent team history
Al-Ahli arrives at the clash with a good performance this season. The club occupies a prominent position in the Saudi league and maintains a positive streak in competitions. The team has names like Mahrez, Kessié, Toney and Galeno in the squad.
Al Duhail competes in the Qatari league and seeks recovery in AFC Champions League Elite. The club showed defensive organization, but had difficulty creating attack against the Saudi team. The history between the teams includes draws and balanced games in previous editions.
The victory puts Al-Ahli in a favorable position to advance to the quarterfinals of the AFC Champions League Elite. The return game will decide who will qualify.
