Al-Ahli stage dramatic comeback to reach second consecutive ACL Elite final

RIYADH: It was a night to remember for Al-Ahli fans. The Greens have progressed to their second consecutive AFC Champions League Elite final after beating Japan’s Vissel Kobe 2-1.

It was no ordinary victory, however. Rather, it epitomized the spirit Al-Ahli have shown since Matthias Jaissle’s appointment in the summer of 2023.

The match had always looked a compelling one on paper but a debate that started before the game, with Japanese journalists questioning whether the centralized format was fair to their clubs, added spice to the contest.

The same day, sources told Al-Sharq Al-Awsat that the Professional Football Committee at the Asian Football Confederation was expected to adopt a new slot allocation for clubs across the Elite competition. Both Saudi Arabia and Japan are set to see their quotas increase to five clubs each — the most in the competition.

But as fans argued on social media, for coaches Jaissle and Michael Skibbe bureaucratic decisions were the last thing on their minds. Their focus was solely on the coveted final spot: a chance for back-to-back glory for Al-Ahli or the opportunity for a maiden title for Vissel Kobe.

لمسته في كل هدف #الأهلي_فيسيل_كوبي | #دوري_أبطال_آسيا_للنخبة | #LetsGoWithAlAhli pic.twitter.com/7V8oKPtKQV

— النادي الأهلي السعودي (@ALAHLI_FC) April 20, 2026

Despite the Greens’ home advantage, the Japanese side managed to thwart Al-Ahli’s most dangerous players and prevent them from breaking into the penalty area. An aggressive 4-2-4 defensive setup meant Al-Ahli often resorted to long diagonals toward Riyad Mahrez or inverted runs from left back Zakaria Hawsawi.

It was not until the 27th minute that Al-Ahli created their first clear chance of the game, a long shot from Franck