Al Ahli Fight Back to Beat Vissel Kobe as Toney Books Final Spot

Al Ahli one win from back-to-back AFC titles

Maekawa’s error gifted Toney the winner as Al Ahli beat Vissel Kobe 2-1 to reach the AFC Champions League Elite final.

  

Kobe hit the bar through Sasaki at 1-0 before Galeno and Toney struck in eight minutes to send Al Ahli to the AFC final...

 

Al Ahli came from behind to beat Japan’s Vissel Kobe 2-1 in Monday’s AFC Champions League Elite semi-final. Ivan Toney’s 70th-minute strike sent the defending champions into the final.

Yoshinori Muto put the J.League side ahead in the 31st minute in Jeddah. Galeno equalized 17 minutes into the second half with a thunderous strike, and Toney clinched Al Ahli’s spot in the decider eight minutes later with a pinpoint finish.

 

The result puts Al Ahli into a second straight final and keeps Matthias Jaissle’s side on course to become the first team since fellow Saudi side Al Ittihad in 2005 to win back-to-back titles.

“We're really proud again to be in ⁠the final, back-to-back is something ‌special and a huge honour and privilege,” said Jaissle. “The game was not easy, as always in this stage, in a semi-final in this competition. Details decided the game.”

Vissel Kobe went ahead when Katsuya Nagato’s free kick from inside Al Ahli’s half was nodded across goal by Yuya Osako. An unmarked Muto slid his finish past Edouard Mendy.

  

Al Ahli nearly equalized in first-half stoppage time. Rayan Hamed met Galeno’s free kick from the right with a header that struck the far post, and Toney’s flick from Enzo Millot’s cross drifted just wide.

Ivan Toney with the semi-final match-winner! #ACLElite | #VISvAHL pic.twitter.com/lnCAs2sVcc

— #ACLElite | #ACLTwo (@TheAFCCL) April 20, 2026

Franck Kessie headed wide seconds after the restart and Toney had a goal ruled out for offside five minutes into the half as Al Ahli turned up the pressure.

Daiju Sasaki should have made it 2-0 in the 54th minute. Found unmarked in the box by Mitsuki Hidaka, the winger smashed his shot off the crossbar.

 

𝗙𝗧 | 🇯🇵 Vissel Kobe 1️⃣-2️⃣ Al Ahli 🇸🇦

The defending champions are back in Saturday’s final. A superb comeback earns semi-final progression in Jeddah 🔥🏆#ACLElite | #VISvAHL pic.twitter.com/PMVPOTSgUk

— #ACLElite | #ACLTwo (@TheAFCCL) April 20, 2026

Eight minutes later, Al Ahli were level. Galeno unleashed an unstoppable 25-yard strike that flew past keeper Daiya Maekawa.

 

Eight minutes after that, Al Ahli led. Maekawa flapped at Galeno’s cross from the left, giving Toney time and space to slide a low finish past three Kobe defenders on the line.

✨ 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗦 ✨

🟢⚪ The reigning champions return to the showpiece as their title defence reaches the last stage 🏆#ACLElite | #VISvAHL pic.twitter.com/I0LSW8vf62

— #ACLElite | #ACLTwo (@TheAFCCL) April 20, 2026

Al Ahli will face either UAE’s Shabab Al-Ahli or Japan’s Machida Zelvia in the final. The two meet on Tuesday.