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Semi-finals: Facts & Figures

Wed, 22 Apr, 2026

Semi-finals: Facts & Figures

Jeddah: The AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2026™ is just one match away from crowning the winners.

Al Ahli Saudi FC and FC Machida Zelvia advanced to Saturday's decider after overcoming tough opponents and the-AFC.com highlights several facts and figures from the two absorbing semi-finals.

https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/video/aclelite-|-semi-finals-fc-machida-zelvia-jpn-1-0-shabab-al-ahli-uae

Soma’s hard work, patience pay off

Wed, 22 Apr, 2026

Soma’s hard work, patience pay off

Jeddah:  Yuki Soma was glad to have made a spectacular return for FC Machida Zelvia in their AFC Champions League Finals Jeddah 2026™ semi-final win against UAE's Shabab Al Ahli on Tuesday.

Soma scored the only goal of the game as the debutant Japanese side set up a final against defending champions Al Ahli Saudi FC on Saturday but the decision for the midfielder to start was made almost at the last minute.

Machida Zelvia peaking nicely, says Kuroda

Wed, 22 Apr, 2026

Machida Zelvia peaking nicely, says Kuroda

Jeddah: Head coach Go Kuroda feels that FC Machida Zelvia side are hitting form at the right time after the Japanese side saw off Shabab Al Ahli 1-0 in their AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2026™ semi-final on Tuesday.

A seventh clean sheet of their season saw the debutants advancing to the final, with defending champions Al Ahli Saudi FC their opponents on Saturday, a tie Kuroda is relishing.

Soma strike takes Machida Zelvia into dream final

Wed, 22 Apr, 2026

Soma strike takes Machida Zelvia into dream final

Jeddah: FC Machida Zelvia continued their AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2026™ fairytale run after defeating Shabab Al Ahli 1-0 in their semi-final tie on Tuesday.

Yuki Soma’s goal earned Machida the chance to emulate Australia’s Western Sydney Wanderers who lifted the coveted title in their debut outing in 2014 as the Japanese side set up a final against defending champions Al Ahli Saudi FC of Saudi Arabia on Saturday.

https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/photo/s-final-fc-machida-zelvia-jpn-v-shabab-al-ahli-uae

https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/video/aclelite-|-semi-finals-vissel-kobe-jpn-1-2-al-ahli-saudi-fc-ksa

Jaissle hails Al Ahli Saudi's second-half wonder show

Tue, 21 Apr, 2026

Jaissle hails Al Ahli Saudi's second-half wonder show

Jeddah: Al Ahli Saudi FC head coach Matthias Jaissle credited his team’s second half performance against Vissel Kobe on Monday for leading the defending champions into the AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2026 decider on Saturday.

The Saudi Pro League side trailed at halftime to a 31st minute Yoshinori Muto goal but a thunderous strike by Galeno levelled the scores in the 62nd minute and Ivan Toney won the tie for the Jeddah-based club with a perfect finish eight minutes later.

Vissel Kobe were outfought, admits Skibbe

Tue, 21 Apr, 2026

Vissel Kobe were outfought, admits Skibbe

Jeddah: Vissel Kobe head coach Michael Skibbe admitted his side were outgunned by Al Ahli Saudi FC in their AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2026™ clash on Monday as the Saudi Pro League notched up a 2-1 win to qualify for Saturday’s final.

A determined second half showing from Matthias Jaissle’s side saw defending champions Al Ahli battle back from going a goal behind in the 31st minute by Yoshinori Muto, with Galeno and Ivan Toney scoring in the 62nd and 70th minutes respectively to take their team through.

Al Ahli Saudi fight back to stay on title track

Tue, 21 Apr, 2026

Al Ahli Saudi fight back to stay on title track

Jeddah: Second half goals from Galeno and Ivan Toney saw Al Ahli Saudi FC overcome a first half deficit to defeat Vissel Kobe 2-1 at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium on Monday and book their place in Saturday’s final of the AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2026™.

The champions launched a dramatic turnaround following the interval after Yoshinori Muto had given the J1 League side a 31st minute lead and Matthias Jaissle’s side remain on track to become the first team since Al Ittihad to retain the continental title in 2005.

Al Ahli will take on either FC Machida Zelvia from Japan or Shabab Al Ahli from the United Emirates in the final, with that pair due to meet in the second semi-final at the Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Sports City Stadium on Tuesday.

https://www.the-afc.com/en/club/afc_champions_league_elite.html/photo/s-final-vissel-kobe-jpn-v-al-ahli-saudi-fc-ksa

S-final - Preview: FC Machida Zelvia (JPN) v Shabab Al Ahli (UAE)

Wed, 22 Apr, 2026

S-final - Preview: FC Machida Zelvia (JPN) v Shabab Al Ahli (UAE)

Jeddah: Go Kuroda played down the additional day of rest FC Machida Zelvia had compared to Shabab Al Ahli as the head coach challenged his defence to come out on top in their AFC Champions League Elite Finals Jeddah 2026™ semi-final on Tuesday.

Japan’s Machida defeated Al Ittihad Club 1-0 in the quarter-finals on Friday while Shabab needed extra-time to beat Buriram United 3-2 a day later but the former high-school coach turned professional tactician said everything goes out the window once the opening whistle is blown.