Shock on the Continent: Sharjah Stuns Al Ahli Jeddah 1-0 in AFC Elite Clash

Match Recap

Sharjah upset Al Ahli Jeddah by securing a 1-0 victory in the AFC Champions League Elite, thanks to a late counter finish from Ousmane Kamara in the 81st minute. The goal came after a long ball exposed the keeper and the defense, allowing Kamara to finish from close range.

The win lifts Sharjah to seven points in the group, while Al Ahli, the defending champions, remain on ten points in third place. It adds another chapter to Al Ahli’s season, who had already suffered a prior loss to Pyramids in the Intercontinental Cup.

Jaissle, the Al Ahli coach, made several tweaks to the lineup, opting for a slightly altered XI that balanced defensive stability with attacking intent. Sharjah fielded a well-organized starting XI, sticking to their mid‑range pressure and countering approach.

In a brisk opening, Al Ahli pressed with intensity and tempo. In the 11th minute, a promising move started by Riyad Mahrez forced a reaction in the box, culminating in a shot that was blocked and cleared. By the 18th minute, Sharjah tested the defense with a cross into dangerous areas, but the danger was averted by timely clearances. The first half featured tightened defending as both sides searched for an edge, punctuated by a tense moment when a Brazilian forward was initially sent off, only for a VAR check to adjust the decision to a yellow card.

For the second half, substitutions added freshness as both teams sought to shake the scoreboard in their favor. In the 64th minute, more changes came as Sharjah adjusted their shape while Al Ahli brought in Ivan Tony to bolster the attack, but neither side could force a breakthrough until Kamara finally struck on the counter in the 81st minute.

The closing minutes saw Al Ahli push for an equalizer, with a late effort from Tony and a subsequent long-range attempt from Zakaria Housawi, but the Sharjah defense held firm. Seven minutes of stoppage time could not alter the result, and Sharjah celebrated a hard‑fought 1-0 win that sharpened the group dynamic.

Punchlines: If defending were an art, Sharjah just painted a masterpiece and handed Al Ahli a blank canvas. And remember, football is a game where the ball somehow finds its way to the goalkeeper’s pocket—tonight, Al Ahli’s shots found the pockets of missed chances instead.