Al-Ahli, Al-Ittihad Secure Wins in ACL Elit

Al-Ahli Tops ACL Elite Standings

Al-Ahli strengthened its hold on the Asian Champions League Elite standings with a convincing 4-0 victory over Al-Gharafa in Jeddah. Franck Kessie scored a brace, while Enzo Millot and Saleh Al-Shamat also netted, propelling the defending champions to the top of the table. 

“Even though we didn't start well, the spirit was very good from the team, the attitude was very good...”

Defending champions Al-Ahli secured a commanding 4-0 victory over Qatar's Al-Gharafa in Jeddah, propelling them to the top of the Asian Champions League Elite standings. Franck Kessie netted a brace, while Enzo Millot and Saleh Abu Al-Shamat also scored crucial goals.

Kessie, a former Barcelona midfielder, scored twice in the first half, showcasing his exceptional skill. He headed in Al-Ahli's second goal six minutes after Millot's opener and later scored the third goal before halftime, capitalizing on a brilliant pass from Riyad Mahrez.

Meanwhile, Al-Ittihad staged a remarkable comeback against Al-Shorta, winning 4-1 despite trailing at halftime. Houssem Aouar scored a brace in the second half, sealing the win for Al-Ittihad and marking their first victory of the campaign.

Kessie sealed Al-Ahli's dominance before halftime with a clinical finish, charging through the defense to slot home a return pass from Riyad Mahrez. Saleh Abu Al-Shamat wrapped up the win with the fourth goal 14 minutes from time, rounding out a convincing display.

With this win, Al-Ahli now tops the western league phase standings with seven points from three games, keeping them in contention for a spot in the knockout rounds. The top eight finishers will advance to the next stage in March.

Al-Wahda from the UAE and another team are level on seven points after Al-Wahda secured a 3-1 win over Qatar's Al-Duhail in Abu Dhabi. The home side fought back from a goal down, with Brahima Diarra scoring twice and Ala Zouhir netting another to seal the victory.

In a separate match, Al-Ittihad came from behind to win 4-1 against Iraq's Al-Shorta in Baghdad, earning their first win of the campaign. Al-Shorta had taken the lead through Bassam Shakir, but Al-Ittihad dominated the second half with Moussa Diaby and Fabinho scoring, and Houssem Aouar adding a brace to secure the points.  

🔚 Full Time #AlAhli 4️⃣ - 0️⃣ Al-Gharafa#AlAhli_AlGharafa#AFC_Champions_League_Elite#ReigningChampions #ProtectingTheTitle pic.twitter.com/E1e0KzyIbo

— Al-Ahli Saudi Club (@ALAHLI_FCEN) October 20, 2025

Despite being reduced to 10 men after Danilo Pereira's second booking, Al-Ittihad secured a convincing 4-1 win thanks to Houssem Aouar's brace. Aouar scored in the 60th and 76th minutes, sealing the victory for the Saudis and marking a triumphant comeback after initially trailing behind.

“It's very good to win,” said Fabinho. “We came here with one objective in mind, to get the three points. It was tough to play here with the atmosphere with the fans and their team.

“Even though we didn't start well, the spirit was very good from the team, the attitude was very good. We knew to get the three points today we needed to fight and we got the win.”

Tractor FC secured a convincing 5-0 win over Sharjah FC, with Regi Lushkja scoring twice in the opening 11 minutes. Mehdi Hashemnejad, Danial Esmaeilifar, and Masoud Zayer Kazemayni also scored crucial goals, helping Tractor FC pick up their first win of the campaign.

Lushkja's early brace set the tone for Tractor FC's dominant display, showcasing the team's skill and teamwork. The win marks a significant milestone for Dragan Skocic's team, boosting their confidence and momentum in the tournament.