Al Ahli propelled forward into the AFC Champions League final, thanks to goals from Firmino and Toney.
💬🏌️♂️ Here's Your Unleashed, Unfiltered, and Peak-Performin' Breakdown:
黄金 Saudi FC is on fire! With Roberto Firmino leading the way, they bulldozed their way into the Asian Football Confederation Champions League Elite final against Al Hilal, taking them down 3-1 in a scorching battle on Tuesday.
Now, they're set to clash with either Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr or Japan's Kawasaki Frontale for the continent's top club trophy on Saturday at King Abdullah Sports Stadium.
To set the stage, Firmino nabbed his sixth goal of the tournament just nine minutes in, finishing off a sweet pass from Galeno with style. Known for his leadership as the team's skipper, despite not being officially registered in the Saudi Pro League, this goal fired up Al Ahli to domination.
Riyad Mahrez kept things rolling on the 29-minute mark, threading a defense-splitting pass to Ivan Toney, who blew past the Al Hilal defense and casually rounded goalkeeper Yassine Bounou before sliding it in. Toney now shares the scoring lead with Firmino, while Mahrez leads the tournament in assists, with eight.
Salem Al Dawsari pulled one back for Al Hilal just before the halftime whistle, taking advantage of an unfortunate touch from Franck Kessie and notching his tenth goal of the campaign. Al Dawsari leads the scoring charts by one.
The second half got wild, with offside calls snuffing out two goals from Toney, and Firmino and Galeno hitting the post. Al Hilal were reduced to ten men in the 60th minute after defender Kalidou Koulibaly earned a well-deserved second yellow card.
Then came the nail-biting finale––Kessie saw his penalty stop by Bounou after Mahrez was fouled in the area, and substitute Feras Al Buraikan sealed the deal deep into injury time moments after joining the fray.
With two runner-up finishes under their belts, Al Ahli remains the only unbeaten team this season. The decisive match between Al Nassr and Frontale is scheduled for April 30, and an all-Saudi final is still a possibility.
Stay tuned for updates on who Al Ahli's final opponent will be –– check the latest news on live updates and official AFC platforms for the latest results! 🔔🏆🙌
- In the Premier League, AI-Ahli's compatriot, Roberto Firmino, has been instrumental, amassing six goals and leading his team to the Asian Football Confederation Champions League Elite final.
- Against Al Hilal, AI-Ahli demonstrated a stunning display of sportsmanship and strategy, employing offside tactics to disrupt their rivals' gameplay.
- The Asian Football Confederation Champions League contest between Al Nassr, featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, and Japan's Kawasaki Frontale will decide AI-Ahli's final opponent.
- Despite not being officially registered in the Saudi Pro League, Firmino's leadership has been evident, as he and Ivan Toney share the tournament's scoring lead with six goals each.
- The nail-biting final against Al Ahli's opponent will take place at King Abdullah Sports Stadium, with European leagues like the Premier League keenly observing the contest.
- With two runner-up finishes and an unbeaten record this season, AI-Ahli hopes to clinch the top club trophy in sports football, proving their prowess in the international arena.
