Seven goals in a fiery summit… Shabab Al-Ahly loses and qualifies

Shabab Al-Ahly lost to Al-Ahly Saudi Arabia with a score of 4-3 in the eighth and final round of the group stage of the AFC Champions League for the elite, in an exciting confrontation that saw seven goals, but the “Dubai Knights” succeeded in booking the qualification ticket to the round of 16 despite the defeat.

With this victory, Al-Ahly Saudi Arabia raised its score to 17 points, maintaining its runner-up position in Group Two, behind leaders Al-Hilal with 19 points. As for Shabab Al-Ahly, its score stagnated at 11 points in sixth place, but it secured qualification to the second round, benefiting from Sharjah’s loss to Nasaf, to survive the exit despite the third loss in the group stage.

The first half was difficult and disastrous for Shabab Al-Ahly, after they conceded three goals as a result of clear defensive errors, the most notable of which was the second goal, which came after a mistake by Hamad Al-Muqbali, when he failed to handle the ball and it sneaked under his feet into the net. Al-Ahly Saudi took advantage of the lapses to add the fourth goal, ending the first half comfortably ahead.

The goals of Al-Ahly Saudi Arabia were scored by Firas Al-Braikan, Bogdan Blanic (an own goal), Enzo Milot, and Saleh Abu Al-Shamat from a penalty kick, in a first half that witnessed offensive superiority for the hosts.

On the other hand, Shabab Al-Ahly rose up in the second half and succeeded in reducing the difference through Brazilian Breno, who scored two goals in the 66th and 78th minutes, before Mohamed Jumaa added the third goal in stoppage time, to spark the final minutes, but the comeback was not complete.
The Dubai Knights are awaiting the final standings of the group, with the possibility of facing one of the leading teams in the next round, in a new test of their continental ambition.