Where would Al-Ahli be today had they sacked Matthias Jaissle and appointed Massimiliano Allegri instead? Where would they be without the fans who ensured their beloved German manager stayed on?
Those same fans showed up in droves for the AFC Champions League Elite final on Saturday — their second in two seasons — against Japan’s Machida Zelvia. Hours before kick-off, under the blazing sun, thousands gathered to stand by their team.
A team that fought its way back from relegation just a few years ago to become two-time champions of Asia’s most prestigious club competition.
A team that represents more than just 11 players on the pitch, but a community united by belief.
Eighteen months after Jaissle stood on the verge of losing his job, he has now led Al-Ahli to consecutive AFC Champions League Elite titles. Al-Ahli become the first team to win the tournament back-to-back since their rivals Al-Ittihad achieved the feat in 2006 — meaning Jeddah is the only city in the modern era to produce consecutive continental champions.
Al-Ahli defeated Japan’s Machida Zelvia 1-0 at Al-Inma Stadium in front of a bumper crowd of 58,984 fans. Yet despite the energy inside the stadium before kick-off, Machida Zelvia ensured the path to victory was anything but straightforward.
In fact, Machida appeared to learn from Kawasaki Frontale’s defeat to Al-Ahli in last year’s final. Their 5-2-3 system remained unchanged from the previous rounds, with the same aggressive pressing structure that carried them through the knockout stage.
As with every Zelvia encounter, the match quickly turned into a war of attrition for their opponents. Al-Ahli struggled to assert their usual dominance but still created two golden chances in the first-half that left home supporters stunned.
In the 12th minute, Galeno broke free on the counter with acres of space to test Kosei Tani, only for the Japanese goalkeeper to produce a crucial save. Just before half time, Galeno’s cross sparked a scramble in the six-yard box that ended with several missed attempts before Merih Demiral’s rebound crashed against the crossbar.
This campaign Al-Ahli — unlike last season’s run — often grew into the game after the break. Yet this game proved the outlier. Zelvia limited Al-Ahli to just two attempts in the second half and threatened Edouard Mendy with a long-range effort from Hiroyuki Mae.
The situation worsened for Al-Ahli in the 68th minute when Tete Yengi and Zakaria Hawsawi became involved in a heated confrontation. Yengi squared up to Hawsawi before the Al-Ahli defender appeared to headbutt the Australian striker, prompting referee Ilgiz Tantashev to issue a red card.
Despite being reduced to 10 men, the defending champions managed to hold on until extra time — where the decisive moment finally arrived.
A cross from Riyad Mahrez to the far post found Franck Kessie in space. The Ivorian quickly laid it off for substitute Feras Al-Brikan, who fired home the winning goal in the sixth minute of extra time.
Kessie once again proved vital for his side following the red card. In the quarter-final against Johor Darul Ta’zim he scored the equaliser minutes after Ali Majrashi’s sending off, and in the final, he created the winning goal after Hawsawi’s dismissal.
Zelvia’s attacking threat faded in extra-time, but in the final moments they nearly found a dramatic equaliser when Mendi failed to hold onto a cross. Fortunately for Al-Ahli, Demiral reacted quickest to clear the danger, allowing the defending champions to secure another historic continental triumph.
Al-Ahli's win caps one of the most remarkable turnarounds in Asian football. Just four years after suffering relegation from the Saudi Pro League, the club have now secured back-to-back AFC Champions League Elite titles and, have firmly established themselves among the continent’s elite.
