Al-Ahli Saudi midfielder Riyad Al-Sulut has stated that his team’s exit from the AFC Champions League was not a surprising outcome for this season. Al-Ahli bid farewell to the continental competition after a 2-1 defeat to Al-Ain of the UAE in the second leg of the quarter-finals on Monday, March 11, 2024, losing 5-3 on aggregate.
“Our exit from the Champions League was not surprising this season,” Al-Sulut said in post-match comments. “We faced many circumstances, including significant changes within the squad and the technical staff.”
The match at Al-Awal Park Stadium saw Al-Ahli start strongly. They opened the scoring in the 19th minute through a penalty converted by Roberto Firmino, leveling the aggregate score at 3-3. However, Al-Ain responded before the break, with Soufiane Rahimi equalizing in the 45+4th minute to restore his team’s aggregate lead.
The second half witnessed Al-Ahli pushing for goals to turn the tie around, but Al-Ain’s defense held firm. The decisive blow came in the 90+9th minute of stoppage time when Kaku scored from the penalty spot, sealing a 2-1 win on the night for the Emirati side and confirming their place in the semi-finals.
Al-Sulut emphasized the challenging context of the campaign, pointing to the major overhaul the team underwent last summer. “The club signed 17 new players and changed the coach more than once,” he explained. “Achieving stability and harmony under these conditions in a short period is very difficult.”
With their Asian journey over, Al-Ahli now turn their full focus to the Saudi Roshn League. They currently sit third in the table and will aim to secure a direct qualification spot for the 2025-2026 AFC Champions League Elite.
