LONDON: Al-Ahli’s hopes of reaching the quarter-final of the 2018 AFC Champions League are still intact after Mohanned Aseri’s second-half header gave the Saudi Arabians a 2-1 loss at Al-Sadd in the first leg of their second round clash in Qatar.
Ater two first-half goals from Boualem Khoukhi had put Al-Sadd in control of the tie in Doha, Aseri hit back early in the second-half to give the Jeddah club an away goal and hope for the second leg.
While it was no more than the visitors, aggressive and probing going forward, deserved, they had a nightmare start and were behind after just three minutes.
Former Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez had gone down under a challenge from Motaz Hawsawi inside a crowded area and had barely finished appealing when he received a pass at the age of the box from the advancing Khoukhi. The Spaniard threaded the ball through the defense for the Algeria-born forward to slot past Mohammed Al-Awais from close range.
Just four minutes later, Xavi was forcing the goalkeeper into another save and when Hasan Al-Haydos ad Al-Awais diving low to his left after ten minutes, the Saudi visitors were well and truly under the cosh.
After the initial shock however, Al-Ahli started to play their way back into the game. and a fine passing move midway through the half ended with Abdulafttah Asiri dragging his left-footed shot just wide on the right side.
Moments later, Mansour Al-Harbi, starting on the left side, danced through the home defense and then picking up the loose ball inside the area, shot past Saad Al Sheeb only for Ahmed Suhail to clear off the line.
The intervention may well be a turning point in the tie as just before the half-hour Al-Sadd broke to extend their lead. A perfect cross was delivered from the right by Baghdad Bounedjah and Khoukhi climed above Amiri Kurdi inside the area to send a towering header into the back of the net.
Al-Ahli’s efforts were finally rewarded early in the second half as Aseri, Mohannad Aseri, who had gone close with an earlier header, rose at the far post to head Kurdi’s cross past the despairing goalkeeper.
The Saudis continued to look more incisive. Substitute Saleh Al-Amri, busy on the left side of attack, saw three attempts well-saved by Al-Sheeb in the Al-Sadd goal.
With five minutes remaining however, Al Sadd almost snatched a third. A long ball over the top released Bounedjah and the tournament’s leading goalscorer shot fiercely toward the bottom corner. Al Awais produced a top-class save, somehow getting a hand to the ball. He was in action again in injury time to deny Akram Afif.
To concede a third would have been cruel for Al Ahli who deserved more from the game. The result may mark a first defeat for the Saudi team in this year’s tournament but a similar performance in the second leg and fans in Jeddah will be confident of turning the tie around.
Mohanned Aseri goal gives Saudi Arabia's Al-Ahli hope against Xavi's Al-Sadd
Mohanned Aseri goal gives Saudi Arabia's Al-Ahli hope against Xavi's Al-Sadd
- Two first-half goals from Boualem Khoukhi had put Al-Sadd in control of the tie in Doha against Al-Ahli
- Former Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez plays for Qatar's Al-Sadd
Football’s return to Syrian pitches brings fanfare — and friction
RIYADH: Just 10 days after the first anniversary of Syria’s Liberation Day, and one week after the historic performance of the country’s football team at the 2025 Arab Cup — where they reached the quarterfinals — domestic football returned as the Syrian Premier League kicked off its new season.
While league football has continued intermittently since a one-year suspension in 2011, this season represents a notable shift.
For the first time since 2017, the competition features 16 teams playing a full round-robin format — a return to structural normality after years of disrupted campaigns, withdrawals and operational challenges caused by conflict and deteriorating infrastructure.
Foreign players have also returned in significant numbers. A total of 25 overseas players are registered across the 16 clubs in what is now known as the “Prime TV” Syrian Premier League, following the broadcaster’s acquisition of domestic broadcasting rights for the season.
Yet despite the sense of renewal, the league’s reset has been far from smooth. Average attendances remain well below pre-war levels, while the season itself was delayed multiple times before eventually beginning in mid-December — a schedule that is now expected to extend deep into the summer months.
Concerns over facilities and fan safety have already sparked internal tension. The anticipated Matchday Two fixture between Tishreen and Hottin — also known as the Latakia Derby — was postponed by the Syrian Football Association until further notice. No official explanation was provided, but stadium readiness and crowd safety has been at the core of football discussion in Syria.
Supporters have also voiced their frustration over the newly announced ticket prices. Entry fees increased from 5,000 Syrian pounds ($0.45) to 15,000 SYP, a threefold rise announced by the SFA and widely cited as a factor behind subdued crowds.
Infrastructure remains a pressing issue. Historic venues such as Khalid Ibn Al-Walid Stadium in the city of Homs are still not cleared to host games due to pitch conditions and safety requirements, reinforcing the sense of uneven progress — advances made, but frequently offset by new obstacles.
Operational shortcomings were evident as early as the first game of the season. In the opening fixture between Al-Shorta and Hottin, a formal warning was issued to the former by the Disciplinary and Ethics Committee due to a breach in organizational arrangements for the match, including the failure to provide ball boys, which led to a five-minute delay to kick-off.
Political sensitivities have not been easy to navigate either. Al-Karamah were fined 1,500,000 SYP after fans directed verbal abuse at Al-Wahda player Milad Hamad, due to previous political posts made on his Facebook account.
Five days later, Al-Wahda announced Hamad’s suspension from all sporting activities pending review by the relevant committee at the SFA. “This decision comes in solidarity with all our beloved Syrian fans and as a reaffirmation of our commitment to the unity of our people and our land, and to the fact that the blood of our martyrs in the Syrian Revolution has not been shed in vain,” the club said in a statement posted via their official Facebook page.
Rebuilding a sustainable football system in Syria has proven complex. The league’s return has brought moments of excitement alongside renewed tension — a reminder that restoring domestic football is not simply about restarting competition, but about addressing the structures that support it. The Syrian Football Association was contacted for comment, but did not respond.
