Al-Ahli down Buriram to set up all-Saudi Asian Champions League semi

JEDDAH :Al-Ahli handed Thailand's Buriram United a 3-0 defeat in the quarter-finals of the Asian Champions League Elite in Jeddah on Saturday, with victory setting up an all-Saudi Pro League semi-final against Al-Hilal next Tuesday.

Strikes from Riyad Mahrez and Galeno gave Al-Ahli a two-goal lead by the sixth minute and Roberto Firmino added the third 15 minutes before the interval to complete a comfortable win at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium.

"It was the perfect match," said delighted Al-Ahli coach Matthias Jaissle. "We started with the incredible energy the fans were bringing in the stadium, it carried onto the pitch so we could score and score and score. That was something important to dominate the game."

Al-Ahli, runners up in 1986 and 2012, will continue their quest for their first continental title against compatriots and four-times champions Al-Hilal, who handed South Korea's Gwangju a 7-0 thrashing on Friday to progress to the last four.

Former Manchester City winger Mahrez put the home side in front after four minutes, showing composure to slide the ball into the bottom corner of Neil Etheridge's goal after being found unmarked on the right by Firmino.

Two minutes later Al-Ahli doubled their advantage when Galeno drove into the penalty area from the left to meet Roger Ibanez's defence-splitting pass from deep and push a clinical finish through the legs of the Buriram United goalkeeper.

In a frantic start, Buriram thought they had been given a lifeline when referee Ahmed Al-Kaf pointed to the spot as Merih Demiral brought Martin Boakye down. The penalty decision was overturned when the Omani consulted the pitchside monitor.

Despite that disappointment, Buriram appeared to have weathered the worst of the