Rough Edges, Bold Pace: Al Ahli Jeddah Rescue Draws a 2-2 Thriller with Al Duhail in AFC Champions League Elite
29 septembre 2025
Al Ahli Jeddah extended its run of subdued performances with another stumble, this time in a 2-2 draw against Al Duhail of Qatar in the second round of the AFC Champions League Elite.
The team known as the Raqi moved to four points after a 4-2 win over Nasaf in the opening round, while Al Duhail earned their first point following a 1-2 defeat to Al Hilal to start the campaign.
The match delivered a host of notable technical and tactical moments that left the scoreline in balance and the nerves frayed on both sides.
Unsteady Start
Al Ahli began in a clearly unsettled mood defensively, with gaps appearing from the opening minutes as the center-backs failed to mesh and the holding midfielders did not shield them effectively.
The team lined up in a 4-2-3-1 with two pivots, but the shape did little to curb the guests fast transitions.
Despite having quick attacking players, the team struggled to link them, often losing the ball quickly when trying to move from defense to attack.
The full-backs pushed forward without enough protection, creating spaces that Al Duhail exploited on counters.
This lack of compactness meant the match began with Al Ahli playing catch-up and the opponent pressing high and monopolizing possession for long spells.
Ongoing Crises
The midfield was the main problem, with the central midfielder lacking consistency in ball control and distribution, turning possession into a liability rather than a tool.
Al Ahli struggled to build a coherent attack and relied on moments of individual brilliance rather than a clear system.
This issue echoed in other big matches as well, with a gap between the midfield and the defense that allowed the Qatari team to punish breaks in play.
The spaces behind the full backs continued to invite threats and led to repeated incursions into the heart of the defense.
Additionally, the defense showed a lack of balance which produced chances for the opponent, including the first goal caused by poor positioning that left a space behind the back line.
In the second goal, a soft clearance allowed a dangerous attacker to convert from close range after a loose ball fell to him inside the box.
Late in the half the visitors faded slightly but remained dangerous and Al Ahli found it difficult to keep control and looked exposed at the back on several occasions.
Red Flags or Not?
Even with the point earned, the performance raises concerns about the team’s prospects across competitions in the near term.
The team showed grit to salvage a draw but the defensive chaos and lack of a coherent plan risk dragging results down if not addressed.
Punchline 1: If defense were a sniper, this back line would miss by miles and still call it a calculated risk.
Punchline 2: The midfield lost the ball so many times that the ball filed a restraining order against them for ball possession overload.
