Al Ahli brush aside Buriram United to set-up all-Saudi semi-final | OneFootball

Head coach Mathias Jaissle heaped praise for Al Ahli fans after the Roshn Saudi League representatives brushed aside Thai champions Buriram United 3-0 in front of 43,027 fans at Alinma Stadium in Jeddah to confirm an all-Saudi AFC Champions League Elite semi-final clash against Al Hilal.

“The fans were a source of strength for us tonight,” said the German tactician whose side struck twice inside the opening six minutes to put themselves in a comfortable position for the remainder of the tie.

“They helped us push forward and allowed us to control the rhythm of the game. Now we have to immediately switch our focus to the next match against Al Hilal.”

The victory was achieved thanks to Jaissle’s trademark high press being applied from the get-go; Galeno dispossessed an opposition defender just outside the Buriram United penalty area, allowing Roberto Firmino to send Riyad Mahrez through on ball and the Algerian duly swept home with his weaker right foot for the opener.

Almost instantly after, centre-back Roger Ibanez demonstrated his quality in build-up play, carrying the ball forward and providing a defence-splitting pass for his compatriot Galeno who coolly slotted between the goalkeeper’s legs to make it 2-0.

Al Ahli survived a scare when a VAR review reversed a penalty decision for the Thai side with Ghanaian forward Martin Boakye claiming to have been fouled inside the box by Merih Demiral.

The margin was further widened at the half-hour mark when Mahrez whipped a corner towards the far post that was nodded on by Demiral into the path of Firmino who buried it home at the far post from close range for the third.

A routine second half saw Jaissle’s man dictate the tempo while preserving their energy ahead of another vital encounter with compatriots Al Hilal on Tuesday.