Al Rayyan lost 1-2 to Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia in Round 3 (West Zone) of the 2024-2025 AFC Champions League Elite at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium of Al Rayyan’s club on Monday.
Gabri Veiga (16th minute) and Feras Al Brikan (38th minute) goals gave the Saudi side the win while Al Rayyan were gifted an own goal by Al Ahli’s Fahad Al Hamad in the 65th minute as Al Rayyan’s wait for a point in the continental competition continues.
Al Rayyan went on the offensive right from the start, and the first opportunity of the match fell to Hazem Shehata in the seventh minute of play, but his left-footed shot from the centre of the box, from an advantageous position, got blocked.
While The Lions did most of the pressing, the opening goal, however, went the way of Al Ahli, with Veiga giving them the lead in the 16th minute after rifling home a long range shot from an acute angle with his right foot following a corner kick.
Jolted by the goal, Al Rayyan pulled out all their attacking prowess, bombarding their opponents half of the field with relentless attempts at restoring parity. But for all their efforts, former Manchester City star Riyad Mahrez produced a superb diagonal cross in the 38th minute that was connected brilliantly with by Al Brikan, who effortlessly nodded home from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner to double Al Ahli’s lead.
The second goal appeared to be the turning point in the game as Al Ahli gained ascedency while Al Rayyan were consigned to playing defence as the first half ended.
Al Rayyan almost reduced the deficit two minutes into the second half when Róger Guedes was put clear by Julien De Sart, but his right-footed shot from outside the box missed to the left.
The hosts eventually got their desired request in the 65th minute, although through an own goal, with Al Hamad mistakenly heading the ball into his own net while attempting to nod out an overhead pass from substitute Murad Naji Hussein.
The Lions, who are yet to log points so far in the championship having lost their first two matches both to Saudi Arabian sides Al Hilal and Al Nassr, became rejuvenated with the goal and immediately went in search of an equaliser which they almost got in the 84th minute only for Guedes’ well-taken header from the right side of the six yard box getting saved in the top centre of the goal.
The coach Younes Ali’s team upped the pressure towards the end of the highly entertaining match, especially in the late minutes of added time, but every attempt at taking at least a point away from their home ground proved abortive, with the Saudi Arabian side proving once again a formidable force, ensuring they travel back home with the maximum points.
