KSAsportz Report
JEDDAH — In a stunning upset, Sharjah FC defeated defending champions Al Ahli Saudi FC 1-0 during their AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26 clash at King Abdullah Sports City Hall Stadium on Monday. This victory marked a significant milestone for Sharjah, as they ended Al Ahli’s impressive unbeaten streak in the competition.
The match took a decisive turn in the 81st minute when Ousmane Camara scored the only goal, propelling Sharjah to seven points in the group stage, while Al Ahli remains at 10 points from five matches played. This result illustrates both teams’ contrasting fortunes, with Sharjah now echoing the performance of their formidable UAE rivals.
Sharjah started the game with an aggressive approach, although it was Al Ahli who had the first opportunity to score. In the 12th minute, goalkeeper Adel Al Hosani made a crucial save, smothering Fahad Al Rashidi’s volley. Sharjah responded quickly, with Luanzinho attempting to break through but seeing one shot blocked and another miss the target from 18 yards.
As the match progressed, the pace slowed significantly, with neither side finding clear chances. Luanzinho attempted an ambitious shot from the byline in the 40th minute, which was expertly pushed away by Al Ahli’s Abdulrahman Al Sanbi. Tempers flared moments later when Luanzinho faced a potential straight red card for an alleged elbow on Mohammed Yousef in stoppage time. Fortunately for Sharjah, VAR intervened, downgrading the card to yellow.
After the halftime break, both teams displayed increased physicality. In a span of just four minutes, Al Ahli’s Enzo Millot and Sharjah’s Shaheen Abdalla and Majid Rashid all received yellow cards as tensions escalated. However, neither side managed to secure a shot on target until the pivotal moment in the 81st minute.
The breakthrough came when Luanzinho executed a precise through ball to Camara. The striker outpaced two defenders and calmly slid his finish past the onrushing Al Sanbi, silencing the home crowd. Al Ahli, desperate for an equalizer, thought they had found one in the 92nd minute when Ziyad Al Johani scored. That goal was shortly ruled out by VAR after a lengthy review.
This loss leaves Al Ahli, with a group-stage record of 3 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss, now facing increased pressure in their forthcoming matches, while Sharjah solidifies their position with newfound momentum.