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.

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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.

Q-final: Vissel Kobe edge Al Sadd in thriller

Fri, 17 Apr, 2026

Q-final: Vissel Kobe edge Al Sadd in thriller

Jeddah: Vissel Kobe booked their place in the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2026™ with a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win over Al Sadd SC on Thursday after a thrilling 3-3 draw at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium.

Substitute Jean Patric scored the winning penalty for Michael Skibbe’s team after Claudinho had fired his attempt high over the bar in the third round of spot-kicks for the Qatari side.

Rafa Mujica had given Roberto Mancini’s outfit a sixth minute lead and the Spaniard restored his side’s advantage in the 61st minute after seeing Yuya Osako level for the Japanese in the 24th minute. Roberto Firmino added a third for Al Sadd in the 65th minute but Yusuke Ideguchi’s strike with 16 minutes remaining gave Kobe hope and Yoshinori Muto’s header in the third minute of stoppage time took the game into an additional 30 minutes.

Kobe will next face either defending champions Al Ahli Saudi FC from Saudi Arabia or Malaysia Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim, who meet at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium on Friday.

Preview - Q-final: FC Machida Zelvia (JPN) v Al Ittihad Club (KSA)

Thu, 16 Apr, 2026

Preview - Q-final: FC Machida Zelvia (JPN) v Al Ittihad Club (KSA)

Jeddah: Al Ittihad head coach Sergio Conceicao is hoping his team can show the same fighting spirit that saw the Saudi Arabian champions defeat Al Wahda FC to secure their place in the AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2026™ when they face off against FC Machida Zelvia on Friday.

A penalty deep into stoppage time at the end of the second period of extra-time by Brazilian midfielder Fabinho sealed Al Ittihad’s progress to the quarter-finals and the club’s Portuguese tactician is banking on his players’ determination to prove decisive again.

Preview - Q-final: Al Ahli Saudi FC (KSA) v Johor Darul Ta’zim (MAS)

Thu, 16 Apr, 2026

Preview - Q-final: Al Ahli Saudi FC (KSA) v Johor Darul Ta’zim (MAS)

Jeddah:  Matthias Jaissle is anticipating a tough encounter for his Al Ahli Saudi FC side against Johor Darul Ta’zim in their AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2026™ quarter-final on Friday.

The defending champions went through the grind in their Round of 16 tie on Monday, needing extra-time to edge Qatar’s Al Duhail SC with the Saudi Arabian side’s tactician focused on ensuring his players are in their best condition for the match at King Abdullah Sports City Hall Stadium.

Shoji to rely on experience; Fernandes calls for focus

Thu, 16 Apr, 2026

Shoji to rely on experience; Fernandes calls for focus

Jeddah: FC Machida Zelvia captain Gen Shoji will lean on his title-winning experience from 2018 as he leads the J1 League outfit into their AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2026™ clash with Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad on Friday with a place in the semi-finals on the line.

Central defender Shoji was a key member of the Kashima Antlers side that won the AFC Champions League title eight years ago against Islamic Republic of Iran's Persepolis and the former Japan international is determined to make an impact on the tournament once again.