Al-Ahly Secures Crucial Victory Over Al-Rayyan in AFC Champions League First Leg

Al-Ahly has taken a meaningful stride toward the AFC Champions League quarter-finals, triumphing over Al-Rayyan 3-1 in a compelling first leg of their Round of 16 encounter. The match, held on Tuesday, saw Al-Ahly establish a commanding lead, positioning them favorably ahead of the return leg scheduled in Jeddah on the 11th of this month. Goals from Anderson Galinho, riyad Mahrez, and Firas Al-Braikan sealed the victory for the Saudi Arabian side, while Roger gidish managed to score the lone goal for Al-Rayyan.

The victory has undeniably boosted Al-Ahly’s confidence as they prepare to defend their lead in the second leg.The team’s performance showcased their attacking prowess and tactical flexibility,leaving Al-Rayyan wiht a challenging task ahead as they seek to overturn the deficit.

First-half Domination Sets the Stage

Al-Ahly asserted their dominance early in the match, dictating the tempo and creating numerous scoring opportunities. In the 30th minute, Brazilian Anderson Galinho found the net, followed shortly by Algerian star Riyad Mahrez in the 34th minute, compounding Al-Rayyan’s woes. Al-Ahly had threatened early when Galinho’s header, from an Ali Majrashi cross, was repelled by Al-Rayyan’s Brazilian goalkeeper Paulo Victor in the 13th minute. Al-rayyan appealed for a penalty in the 15th minute when the ball appeared to touch the hand of Al-Ahly’s Frank Casey, but the referee waved play on, adding to the tension.

Al-Ahly nearly extended their lead in the 22nd minute when a series of chances fell their way. An Ivan Toni strike, following a Galinho pass, bounced off the goalkeeper towards Roberto Firmino, who then passed it back towards the goal.Though, a defender cleared the ball off the goal line before Mahrez’s shot went wide of the post, highlighting the frantic nature of the game.

Al-Rayyan responded with a counterattack in the 24th minute, with Thiago Mendesh’s powerful shot narrowly missing the post, a warning sign for Al-Ahly.

Galinho opened the scoring in the 30th minute after an individual effort from Firmino, who sent in a cross that galinho headed into the net. Just four minutes later, Al-Ahly capitalized on a mistake by goalkeeper Victor, who mishandled a back pass, resulting in a direct free kick. Mahrez converted the free kick with a powerful shot into the top of the net, leaving Victor with no chance.

Al-Rayyan’s Second Half Response

Al-Rayyan showed significant improvement in the second half, demonstrating resilience and determination to get back into the game. Brazilian Roger Gidish reduced the deficit in the 72nd minute with a stunning shot from outside the penalty area,injecting hope into the Al-Rayyan camp.

Al-Ahly’s Firmino was denied a third goal in the 79th minute when David Garcia cleared his shot off the goal line,maintaining the scoreline. A goal by Gabriel Vega in the 82nd minute was disallowed by VAR due to an offside in the build-up, further frustrating Al-Rayyan’s efforts.

Late Drama and Securing the Win

As Al-Rayyan pushed for an equalizer, committing more players forward, Al-Ahly sealed the victory with a counterattack in added time, showcasing their clinical edge.In the 90th+5 minute, Mahrez passed to Toni, who then set up Firas Al-Braikan to score, effectively ending Al-Rayyan’s hopes of a comeback. The match concluded with Al-Rayyan’s Adam Barro receiving a red card in the 90th+9 minute for a foul on Al-Ahly’s Fahd Al-Rashidi, adding insult to injury.

Riyad mahrez commented on the match, saying:

We played a big match against a competitor who surprised us in a different play other than what we expected, but we went to the match according to what we craved and scored two goals.

Mahrez also acknowledged the team’s slight dip in performance during the second half:

We were slightly loosened in the second half, which allowed the Rayyan to return, but we treated well at late times and maintained our preference and added a third goal.

Looking Ahead to the Second Leg

With a 3-1 advantage, Al-Ahly will be confident heading into the second leg in Jeddah. Though, they will be wary of Al-Rayyan’s potential to mount a comeback, especially playing at home. The match promises to be a thrilling encounter as both teams vie for a place in the AFC Champions League quarter-finals, with Al-Ahly holding the upper hand but Al-Rayyan steadfast to fight back.