Al-Ahli Dominates Al-Gharafa in Asian Champions League Showdown

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — Defending champions Al-Ahli secured a convincing 4-0 victory against Qatar’s Al-Gharafa in the Asian Champions League on Monday. The win propelled Al-Ahli to the top of the Elite standings, as fellow Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad also celebrated their first win of the campaign.

Matthias Jaissle‘s team showcased a powerful first-half performance at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium. Former Barcelona midfielder Franck Kessie made a significant impact by scoring twice, while Abdulaziz Millot opened the scoring.

Millot struck in the 32nd minute with a close-range volley that deflected in off the underside of the crossbar. Just six minutes later, Kessie doubled the lead with a strong header. The Ivorian added a third goal before halftime, finishing a clever return pass. Omar Al-Somah capped the scoring in the 76th minute.

With this victory, Al-Ahli now boasts seven points from three matches in the western league phase. The top eight teams will advance to the knockout rounds in March. They are tied on points with Al-Ain from the UAE, who earned a 3-1 victory over Qatar’s Al-Wakrah.

In another match, Al-Ittihad recorded a 4-1 victory against Iraq‘s Al-Shorta. Despite trailing early to a fifth-minute goal, Al-Ittihad bounced back with goals from Romarinho and Abdalla Majeed before halftime. A red card for Al-Ittihad’s Ahmed Hegazy added tension, but Igor Coronado scored twice to secure the win.

Fabinho, Al-Ittihad’s midfielder, expressed relief after securing the win. “It’s very good to win,” he said. “We came here with one objective in mind, to get the three points. It was tough to play here with the atmosphere from the fans and their team,” he added, emphasizing the team’s strong spirit and attitude.

Meanwhile, Albania international Lushkja scored twice as Iran‘s Esteghlal clinched their first victory of the tournament with a 5-0 defeat of their hosts. Esteghlal’s win featured goals from Lushkja, along with contributions from teammates, underlining a confident performance in the competition.