Dubai: Kingsley Coman delivered a standout performance with a hat-trick as Al Nassr produced a dominant display to defeat Qatar’s Al Ahli SC 5-1 in the AFC Champions League Two 2025/26 semi-final at Zabeel Stadium in Dubai on Wednesday.
The convincing victory under coach Jorge Jesus sends the Saudi Pro League side into the final, where they will face Japan’s Gamba Osaka on May 16.
Al Nassr now stand as strong favourites to become the first Saudi club to win the competition.
The match started at a high tempo. Al Ahli threatened early through Driss Fettouhi, while Al Nassr created a dangerous chance when João Félix threaded a pass for Sadio Mané, only for goalkeeper Marwan Sherif to make a fine save.
Al Ahli took the lead in the 5th minute from the penalty spot after Iñigo Martínez fouled Erik Exposito. Julian Draxler’s spot-kick was brilliantly saved by Bento, who also denied the rebound.
However, Al Ahli were not to be denied for long. In the 10th minute, Fettouhi delivered a precise diagonal pass to Sekou Yansané, who drove into the box and fired a low shot into the bottom corner to make it 1-0.
Al Nassr responded almost immediately. Just two minutes later, Mané set up Angelo Gabriel, whose cut-back was calmly side-footed home by Coman for the equaliser.
Coman thought he had given his side the lead in the 17th minute with a curled effort, but the goal was disallowed after a VAR review for a foul by Marcelo Brozović earlier in the move.
The Saudi side deservedly took the lead in the 23rd minute when Mané picked out Angelo’s run, and the Brazilian forward slotted the ball home with his first touch.
Al Ahli had opportunities to level before halftime, with Draxler denied by a superb sliding block from Abdulelah Al Amri and Fettouhi hitting the crossbar from a corner. Those misses proved costly.
In the 7th minute of added time, a mistake by Fettouhi allowed Coman a simple tap-in, sending Al Nassr into the break with a 3-1 advantage.
After the interval, Al Nassr maintained control. Coman completed his hat-trick in the 63rd minute with a clinical finish, controlling Angelo’s through ball, beating two defenders, and finding the far bottom corner.
Substitute Abdullah Al Hamddan added the fifth in the 80th minute, sweeping home another Angelo cut-back to complete a five-star performance from Al Nassr.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mané also came close to adding more goals as Al Nassr cruised to victory, staying firmly on track for continental glory.
The final against Gamba Osaka promises to be a thrilling encounter between two in-form teams.
