The Al Ahli team has now officially earned their way into the ACL Elite final! In fact, they bested their bitter rivals Al Hilal to the tune of a 3-1 score line. This victory represents a huge accomplishment for Al Ahli. One keenly felt absence throughout their storied run in the tournament, where they proudly tout nine titles despite losing their grip two years ago in 2022 as they fell to relegation, is this: The historic encounter put Al Ahli’s unflinching character on full display. They defeated heavy hitters Al Hilal, Saudi Arabia’s most successful club side – winners of 19 SPL titles.
While Al Ahli’s match against Al Hilal was the primary focus, that game produced a huge level of interest. These two clubs are members of the vaunted ‘Big Four’ in the Saudi Pro League. Al Hilal were riding high on momentum going into the final. Their dramatic quarterfinals showdown was a magnificent 7-0 crushing of K League rivals Gwangju FC. With a tournament-leading 37 goals scored in the tournament thus far, Al Hilal looked like an unstoppable power. Al Ahli’s tactical discipline and standout performances from key players like Khalid paid off, turning the tide in their favor.
Roberto Firmino so far has been trouble for the opponent defence. Firmino has played brilliantly so far with Al Ahli leading his new club from the front. Partnered next to him, Franck Kessié, who’s known for his energetic box-to-box style of play, has done his job to a T in an aggressive and effective manner. Phil Foden and especially Ivan Toney had a hell of an impact. With unimaginable instinct, he buried goals with the grace of a swan, and it made Al Ahli’s attack purely dangerous.
By comparison, Al Hilal were unable to get into a groove in this tense contest from the outset. Although Aleksandar Mitrović has impressed, questions remain about his health and the extent to which he can impact the team’s results. Neymar’s absence was acutely felt by his team. Since his high-profile transfer to Al Hilal, he’s seen action in only seven matches. His lack of ability to influence the game in a big way ended up hurting the team’s upside.
Despite these challenges, Al Hilal’s captain Salem Al-Dawsari emerged as a standout player in the tournament, leading his team with an impressive goal tally. Riyad Mahrez was right behind him with nine goals, only furthering the trio’s reputation as a deadly attacking trio. A big effort wouldn’t be enough to counter the tactical brilliance of Al Ahli on this semifinal’s biggest stage.
The match’s key moments came when Al Ahli was able to take advantage of defensive mistakes committed from Al Hilal. The first goal was a doozy – it set the tone immediately. That close call sparked momentum for Al Ahli, who quickly proved themselves the more dangerous side. It was their tactical execution and how well they worked together as a unit that made the difference and got them to the final.
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