Despite an attacking and fighting show, hosts Al Sadd went down 1-3 to Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia in the Round 7 of 2024-2025 season AFC Champions League Elite (West Zone) at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium of Al Sadd club on Monday.

The hard fought come-from-behind victory took Al Ahli to the top of Group B with a tally of 19 points (from six wins and one draw), while Al Sadd remained fourth with 12 points (three wins, as many draws and one loss).

Both sides had already secured their respective spots for the next stage prior to the thrilling game.

While Akram Afif (first minute) scored Al Sadd’s only goal, Al Ahli hit back through Roberto Firmino (10th minute), Roger Ibanez (39th minute) and Riyad Mahrez (81st minute).

Unbeaten prior to this match, The Wolves had made a dream start in front of home fans as AFC Player of The Year Afif made a burst to catch a fine Youcef Atal assist and strike with his right foot from a difficult angle and from a long range on the right into the bottom left corner.

The setback left Al Ain searching for answers but they found the equalizer soon as Firmino found a Riyaz Mahrez cross in front of the goal to essay a reverse flick (1-1).

The battle to gain the upper hand once again was well and truly on with fans of either sides egging the players on.

In the 18th minute, Al Ahli came close as Ivan Toney’s shot from the right side of the box missed to the left.

In the 31st minute, Al Sadd tried to make inroads as Afif took a free-kick and made a swirling shot for Boualem Khoukhi on the right, and being unmarked, but the latter was found offside.

In the 38th minute, Al Sadd’s Cristo Gonzalez picked on an Afif assist to strike from outside the box into the bottom right corner, but it was cut off by Al Ahli’s goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

Al Ahli soon launched a counter and won a corner kick which saw them move into the lead following a goal-mouth scamper. As the players attempted to reach for the ball and a header saw the ball go to the chest of Firmino, who moved it for Ibanez to kick it into the net (2-1).

Al Sadd came back charged up in the second session but they were strongly challenged by the rivals.

Afif was at the forefront in making forays but Al Sadd were met with resistance at the far end.

Al Ahli meanwhile tried to create chances but were denied by an alert Guilherme Torres, who blocked Ziyad Aljohani’s effort in the 67th minute before Gabriel Veiga stabbed a shot high over the bar.

As Al Sadd moved into all-attack mode, Al Ahli got a chance to break past in the 81^st minute when Ivan Toney managed to hook a pass to Mahrez, despite running into an advancing Meshaal Barsham at the top of the box, and giving the Algerian the easiest of tasks of slotting home into an unguarded goal. A VAR confirmed the goal with Toney also escaping off-side marginally.