Saudi Super Cup: Al-Ahli sweep aside Al-Qadsiah to book final Hong Kong date with Ronaldo
Reigning Asian champions recover from falling behind to thump 10-man Al-Qadsiah and advance to Saturday’s final against Al-Nassr
Al-Ahli stand in the way of Cristiano Ronaldo and Saudi Super Cup glory after they beat Al-Qadsiah 5-1 in a heavily VAR-influenced semi-final at Hong Kong Stadium on Wednesday.
On a night that felt very much like after the Lord Mayor’s show, 24 hours on from Cristiano Ronaldo mania sweeping the same venue, Al-Ahli were stung into action after Gaston Alvarez headed their opponents into an eighth-minute lead.
Franck Kessie capitalised on some lax defending to equalise four minutes later, before Ivan Toney, with the 43rd successful penalty of his career, turned the score on its head after 28 minutes.
Enzo Millot quickly added a third for the reigning Asian champions, as they moved one step closer to the club’s second Super Cup title.
“It was a fantastic reaction after we conceded an unnecessary goal,” Matthias Jaissle, the Al-Ahli head coach, said. “I am so proud of the team and how they dealt [with] that. They kept their focus on the match plan and were really detailed in what they were doing.”
Al-Qadsiah’s task grew sterner still with the 42nd-minute dismissal of forward Christopher Baah, and Kessie stretched Al-Ahli’s advantage in first-half stoppage time. Nacho Fernandez’s 61st-minute own goal heaped more misery on Al-Qadsiah.