Firmino and Toney fire Al Ahli past Al Hilal and into AFC Champions League Elite final

Roberto Firmino and Ivan Toney struck as Al Ahli booked their place in the AFC Champions League Elite final with a spirited 3-1 victory over domestic rivals Al Hilal on Tuesday in Jeddah.

Playing at their home at King Abdullah Sports City — the neutral venue for the tournament’s closing stages — Al Ahli took the lead in the ninth minute when Brazilian winger Galeno surged to the byline and squared for Firmino to convert with authority. The Al Ahli captain, left out of the club’s domestic squad, now has six goals in the competition.

The lead was doubled just before the half-hour mark. Riyad Mahrez split the Al Hilal defence with a perfectly weighted pass, allowing Toney to round Yassine Bounou and slot home his sixth of the campaign. Mahrez’s assist was his eighth of the tournament, a competition best.

Al Hilal responded in the 42nd minute as Salem Al Dawsari capitalised on a misplaced touch from Franck Kessie to rifle home his 10th goal — making him the tournament’s top scorer.

The second half proved frenetic. Toney had two efforts disallowed for offside, while Firmino and Galeno both struck the woodwork. Al Hilal’s hopes faded further when Kalidou Koulibaly received a second booking just before the hour.

Kessie saw a late penalty saved by Bounou, but substitute Feras Al Buraikan made sure of the result in stoppage time.

Unbeaten Al Ahli now await either Al Nassr or Kawasaki Frontale in Saturday’s final.

(Source: AFP)