Al Ahli launch ACL Elite defence with stirring comeback over Nasaf

WEB DESK: Defending champions Al Ahli began their AFC Champions League Elite campaign in dramatic fashion on Monday night, overturning a two-goal deficit to defeat Uzbekistan’s Nasaf 4-2 in Jeddah.

The match looked to be slipping away from the Saudi Pro League side after Husain Norchaev struck twice in the first half, punishing a sluggish Al Ahli backline and silencing the home crowd. Nasaf carried a 2-0 lead into the interval, leaving Matthias Jaissle’s men staring at an opening-day upset.

But the second half brought a stunning revival. French midfielder Enzo Millot, signed in the summer for €35 million from VfB Stuttgart, turned the game on its head with two goals in the space of three minutes. His first came in the 65th minute, a long-range effort that caught goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov off his line. Moments later, Millot pounced on hesitant defending to calmly slot home, drawing the hosts level.

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From there, Al Ahli seized momentum. With the game deep into stoppage time, Riyad Mahrez struck to put his side ahead for the first time. Substitute Mohammed Sulaiman added a fourth soon after, sealing the victory and sparking jubilant scenes in King Abdullah Sports City. Nasaf’s misery was compounded by a late red card for Alibek Davronov.

“Everybody had to give 100 per cent in the second half,” Millot said afterward. “We had to attack the box and take risks. I’m glad we did it together.”

Coach Jaissle echoed the sentiment, praising his players’ resilience. “We weren’t fully present in the first half, but the second-half response showed our character and our identity,” he said. “To fight back like this, in front of our fans, is the perfect start.”

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The victory gives Al Ahli three points in the western phase, where 12 teams contest eight matches to determine the top eight who advance to the knockout rounds in March.

Elsewhere, Al Ahli’s Jeddah rivals Al Ittihad suffered a shock 2-1 loss to UAE’s Al Wahda, who capitalised after Muhannad Al Shanqiti was sent off. Sharjah, another UAE side, staged their own late comeback, scoring twice in stoppage time to beat Al Gharafa 4-3. In Baghdad, Al Sadd of Qatar fought back to draw 1-1 with Iraq’s Al Shorta.