Lightning Comes Back: Al Ahli Jeddah Stuns Al Qadsiah in a King’s Cup Thriller to Reach the Semis

Al Ahli Jeddah carried the drama of the season into the King’s Cup quarterfinals, adding Al Qadsiah to its growing list of remontadas that have become a signature of this campaign.

The two teams delivered one of the most thrilling King Cup ties of the year, with Al Ahli ultimately winning on penalties (5-4) to secure a semifinal spot and deepen Al Qadsiah's woes—a side that seems plagued by an "Ahli curse" whenever they meet the giants this season.

The start was far from predictable; Al Qadsiah entered with ambition to shock the holders of the continental title and looked sharp in attack, racing to a 3-1 lead that put Al Ahli under pressure at a tough moment.

But the legacy of the "Raqi" and their unwavering faith in a comeback kept the crowd hopeful, even as the deficit grew.

As the clock ticked on, Al Ahli showed that "impossible" is not part of their vocabulary this season, launching a second-half rally to net two goals and level the score at 3-3, forcing extra time and adding drama to the match.

Despite attempts to seal it before penalties, the goalkeepers stood tall, and the decisive shootout tipped the balance in favor of Al Ahli 5-4.

Season's Curse

Beyond this King’s Cup clash, Al Qadsiah appears to suffer a real psychological and tactical block whenever they face Al Ahli, losing to them three times in a row across three different competitions.

The first setback came in the domestic Super Cup staged in Hong Kong, where they were defeated 5-1, a reminder of the gap between the teams in that match.

Shortly after, they met in the ninth round of the Saudi league, and again Al Ahli triumphed 2-1, even after playing the second half with ten men following a red card to a key player. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Al Ahli pressed forward and turned the deficit into a victory.

With a third win in the King’s Cup, it became clear that Al Ahli had become a psychological and tactical hurdle for Al Qadsiah, who found their attempts to grab a positive result met by a fierce reaction from the "Raqi" that reset the momentum and kept the upper hand.

Remontada King

Apart from the Al Qadsiah fixture, Al Ahli has become the "Remontada King" this season, delivering three historic fightbacks across three different competitions.

The first remontada came in the opening group stage of the AFC Champions League when Al Ahli trailed 2-0 to Nasaf of Uzbekistan, but after the break they turned the game around and scored four goals to start their continental title defense with a thrilling victory.

The second remontada was perhaps the wildest in Saudi football this season, as Al Ahli came back from 3-0 down against Al Hilal to score three consecutive goals in the second half, ending the match at 3-3 and producing a classic derby.

The remontada against Al Qadsiah earned the club the unofficial title it deserves: "Remontada King," proving they are a team you cannot take lightly at any scoreline.

With this latest comeback, Al Ahli continues to write an exceptional chapter this season, proving they are among the strongest Saudi clubs both technically and mentally, with a genuine ambition to compete for all competitions despite obstacles or deficits in scorelines.

Impact of the Remontadas

The remontadas this season were more than thrilling wins; they shaped the team's character and self-belief ahead of crucial stages, with comebacks against Nasaf, Al Hilal, and Al Qadsiah strengthening the idea that they can overturn any result.

Psychologically, Al Ahli now approaches matches with greater certainty, and without fear of early goals, having proven they can come back from any situation. This gives the coach and staff more flexibility in decisions and substitutions.

Technically, these remontadas exposed the depth of Al Ahli's squad and the impact of bench players, providing a broader tactical toolkit amid a crowded schedule of domestic and Asian fixtures. At the same time, opponents know that leading against Al Ahli is not a guaranteed win, creating fear and requiring constant vigilance.

Yet the challenge remains to fix slow starts that put the team on the back foot; repeated comebacks can't be a long-term solution. If the team can merge strong character with sharp early play, they could enter one of the best spells of their season.

Punchline: If comebacks were currency, Al Ahli would be the richest club on earth — and the accountants would still need a bigger calculator for extra time.

Punchline: They don’t chase results; they stage a Hollywood sequel every week. Al Ahli: coming soon to a stadium near you—starring a comeback and a dramatic penalty shootout.