Kessie and Aouar Shine with Braces, Securing Asian Champions League Wins

Defending champions Al-Ahli triumphed over Al-Gharafa from Qatar, claiming a decisive 4-0 victory during their match in Jeddah. This win elevates Al-Ahli to the top position in the Asian Champions League Elite standings. The match took place at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, showcasing a dominant performance from Matthias Jaissle’s squad.

Key Players Shine

Franck Kessie, a former Barcelona midfielder, was instrumental in the victory, scoring twice. Enzo Millot opened the scoring in the 32nd minute, hitting a volley that deflected off the crossbar. Kessie quickly followed with his first goal, a powerful header six minutes later.

Before halftime, Kessie added another to his tally, running through the defence to score after receiving a pass from Riyad Mahrez. Saleh Abu Al-Shamat sealed the match by scoring the fourth goal 14 minutes before the final whistle.

Standings Update

With this win, Al-Ahli accumulated seven points from three matches in the western league phase of the tournament. They are currently tied on points with Al-Wahda from the UAE, who overcame Al-Duhail with a 3-1 win in Abu Dhabi. Goals from Brahima Diarra and Ala Zouhir secured the victory for Al-Wahda.

Al-Ittihad Secures Their First Win

In another match, Al-Ittihad recorded a 4-1 victory against Iraq’s Al-Shorta, marking their first win of the tournament. Although Al-Shorta took an early lead through Bassam Shakir in the fifth minute, Al-Ittihad quickly responded. Goals from Moussa Diaby and Fabinho shifted the momentum in their favor.

Despite losing Danilo Pereira to a second yellow card, Houssem Aouar emerged as a key player, scoring twice in the 60th and 76th minutes to secure the win for Al-Ittihad. Fabinho commented on the match, emphasizing the team’s strong spirit and determination.

Other Notable Performances

In a notable match, Iran’s Tractor FC achieved their first victory of the campaign with a 5-0 rout of Sharjah FC. Albania international Regi Lushkja scored twice within the opening 11 minutes, leading his team to a comfortable win. Mehdi Hashemnejad, Danial Esmaeilifar, and Masoud Zayer Kazemayni also contributed goals for Tractor FC.

Conclusion

The events of this matchday highlighted the emergence of key players like Kessie and Aouar, contributing significantly to their team’s success in the Asian Champions League. As the competition progresses, teams aim for top positions to advance to the knockout rounds in March.