Q-final: Al Ahli Saudi fight back to stay on title track

Sat, 18 Apr, 2026

Q-final: Al Ahli Saudi fight back to stay on title track

Jeddah: Ten-man Al Ahli Saudi FC came from behind to edge Johor Darul Ta’zim 2-1 in their AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2026™ quarter-final on Friday to move a step closer towards retaining their title.

JDT shocked Al Ahli with the opener from an Ali Majrashi own goal with the right-back then sent off for serious foul play but the Jeddah-based outfit equalised before half-time thanks to a Franck Kessie header.

Galeno produced a brilliant piece of magic after the interval with his superb long range strike sending Al Ahli through to a semi-final encounter with Japan’s Vissel Kobe on Monday.

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Q-final: Yengi strike keeps Machida Zelvia's dream run going

Sat, 18 Apr, 2026

Q-final: Yengi strike keeps Machida Zelvia's dream run going

Jeddah: FC Machida Zelvia advanced to the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2026™ on Friday as Tete Yengi’s deflected strike earned the Japanese side a 1-0 win over former champions Al Ittihad Club at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium.

The Australian forward stuck in the 31st minute to take the J1 League side into the last four for the first time and set up a semi-final encounter with either Thailand’s Buriram United or Shabab Al Ahli from the United Arab Emirates.

Machida’s win came after an eventful second half that saw Al Ittihad hit the woodwork twice but Go Kuroda’s tournament debutants held on to progress to the disappointment of the majority in the crowd of more than 16,000 spectators.

Preview - Q-final: Buriram United (THA) v Shabab Al Ahli (UAE)

Fri, 17 Apr, 2026

Preview - Q-final: Buriram United (THA) v Shabab Al Ahli (UAE)

Jeddah: Belief and focus will be the key ingredients when Thailand’s Buriram United and Shabab Al Ahli of the United Arab Emirates face off in the AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2026™ quarter-finals on Saturday.

Buriram head coach Mark Jackson is demanding confidence from his Buriram side while his Shabab Al Ahli counterpart Paulo Sousa expects full commitment after the UAE side advanced to this stage with victory against Tractor FC of Islamic Republic of Iran in the Round of 16.

Buriram’s Dougall counting on experience; Shabab’s Abbas warns against errors

Fri, 17 Apr, 2026

Buriram’s Dougall counting on experience; Shabab’s Abbas warns against errors

Jeddah: Kenneth Dougall and Walid Abbas are equally determined to put their best foot forward when Buriram United and Shabab Al Ahli meet in the AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2026™ quarter-finals on Saturday.

Dougall was part of the Buriram side that reached the same stage of the competition last season before bowing out by eventual champions Al Ahli Saudi FC of Saudi Arabia while Abbas will be appearing at this stage for the first time.

Skibbe hails Vissel Kobe's determination

Fri, 17 Apr, 2026

Skibbe hails Vissel Kobe's determination

Jeddah: Vissel Kobe head coach Michael Skibbe praised his team’s never-say-die attitude as the former J1 League champions booked their place in the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2026™ on Thursday with a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win over Al Sadd SC.

Skibbe’s side needed a last-gasp equaliser from Yoshinori Muto to secure a 3-3 draw with the Qatari side and take the game into extra-time, where goalkeeper Daiya Maekawa made a string of vital saves to set up the shoot-out that Kobe edged.

No regrets for Al Sadd's Mancini

Fri, 17 Apr, 2026

No regrets for Al Sadd's Mancini

Jeddah: Al Sadd head coach Roberto Mancini said he did not regret taking off two-goal striker Rafa Mujica in the dying minutes of regular time in their AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2026 tie against Vissel Kobe on Thursday.

The Japanese side battled back to score a late equaliser and went on to eliminate the Qataris from the quarter-finals in a penalty shoot-out.