In a gripping encounter held on Saturday in Jeddah, Shabab Al Ahli from the UAE secured their place in the semi-finals of the Asian Champions League by edging past Thailand’s Buriram United with a 3-2 victory after extra time.
Thrilling Comeback and Semi-Final Prospects
The Emirati club, which had previously finished as runners-up in 2015, now faces a challenging semi-final tie against Machida Zelvia from Japan. Despite initially establishing a comfortable two-goal advantage, Shabab Al Ahli saw their lead vanish as the match reached a 2-2 deadlock by the end of regulation time, necessitating the extra period to determine the victor.
Under the guidance of their coach, the former Portuguese international Paulo Sousa, who boasts a distinguished career including triumphs in the UEFA Champions League, Shabab Al Ahli demonstrated resilience and tactical discipline to overcome their Thai opponents.