Al Ahli Saudi FC continued their winning streak in the AFC Champions League Elite 2024/25 with a 2-0 victory over Al Wasl Club of the United Arab Emirates. The match saw first-half goals from Riyad Mahrez and Roger Ibanez, securing Al Ahli six points from their first two matches. Al Wasl, on the other hand, remains on three points despite a strong start to the game.
The game started with Al Wasl showing promise, as Nicolas Gimenez came close to scoring in the opening minutes with a twisting shot that narrowly missed the target. However, Al Ahli quickly took the lead in the third minute when Mahrez expertly controlled a long ball from Ibanez and slotted it past Al Wasl’s goalkeeper. Al Wasl had their chances to equalize, with Ivan Toney making a crucial clearance off the line to deny Fabio Lima’s corner.
Al Ahli extended their lead in the 38th minute when Mahrez’s corner found Ibanez, who headed home with Al Wasl’s goalkeeper out of position. Despite trailing by two goals at halftime, Al Wasl’s coach chose not to make any changes, while Al Ahli made a substitution due to an injury. Al Wasl pressed for a goal in the second half, but their efforts were thwarted by Al Ahli’s strong defense.
Al Ahli’s victory marked their second consecutive win in the tournament, following their triumph over Persepolis FC in the opening match. They will aim to make it three in a row when they face Al Rayyan SC of Qatar in their next match. On the other hand, Al Wasl will look to bounce back from their defeat when they take on Al Gharafa from Qatar. Al Ahli’s strong start in the AFC Champions League Elite 2024/25 has put them in a good position to continue their winning streak and make a mark in the tournament.
