Shabab Al Ahli will face Al Gharafa in Asian Champions League Elite

DOHA : Shabab Al-Ahli of the United Arab Emirates are set to face Qatar’s Al-Gharafa next week in a crucial match for a spot in the group stages of the newly restructured Asian Champions League Elite. This opportunity follows a dramatic 4-1 playoff win after extra-time against Iranian hosts Sepahan in Isfahan on Tuesday.

The match saw a late equalizer from Shabab Al-Ahli’s recent Iranian signing, Sardar Azmoun, 17 minutes into the second half. This goal came after Sepahan’s Mohammad Mehdi Mohebi had given his team the lead with a strike in the 44th minute. The game was pushed into extra-time, where Yahya Al-Ghassani emerged as the hero for Shabab Al-Ahli, scoring twice in the additional 30-minute period.

The upcoming playoff between Shabab Al-Ahli and Al-Gharafa is part of a final qualification round that will determine who advances to the group stages of the competition. Another key playoff match will see China’s Shandong Taishan take on Thailand’s Bangkok United, with the winners from both playoffs securing their places in the prestigious tournament.

The relaunched Asian Champions League Elite will feature 24 teams, split evenly between west and east Asia. The draw for the group stages will take place in Kuala Lumpur on August 16.