Edouard Mendy shines as Al-Ahli defeat Al-Ain to maintain AFC Champions League dominance

Al-Ahli secured a crucial 2-1 victory over defending champions Al-Ain in the AFC Champions League on Monday, bolstering their position at the top of the group standings. Senegalese goalkeeper Edouard Mendy delivered a standout performance, making decisive saves to ensure his team’s perfect record in the competition.

Despite a challenging domestic season that sees Al-Ahli in seventh place in the Saudi Pro League, the club has been in formidable form on the continental stage.

Under the guidance of head coach Matthias Jaissle, they extended their winning streak to five matches, cementing their status as one of the tournament’s top contenders.

English forward Ivan Toney proved instrumental in the triumph, netting two quick goals in the 70th and 74th minutes to overturn a first-half deficit.

His clinical finishing came at a pivotal moment after Al-Ahli had struggled to break through Al-Ain’s defensive lines for much of the game.

Al-Ain initially appeared poised to secure a positive result on home soil, finding the net early in the match.

However, their efforts were thwarted repeatedly by Mendy, whose reflexes and positioning kept the Saudi side in the contest.

The goalkeeper made a series of critical saves, including an acrobatic stop in the 19th minute, another close-range denial in the 22nd, and a crucial intervention in the 61st to preserve the lead.

Mendy, who showed signs of discomfort with an adductor issue shortly before halftime, soldiered on to finish the game, underlining his resilience and importance to the squad.

His heroics ensured that Al-Ahli maintained their grip on first place in the group, staying ahead of domestic rivals Al-Hilal.

The victory not only marked a significant milestone in Al-Ahli’s Champions League campaign but also highlighted the team’s potential to challenge for silverware despite their domestic inconsistencies.

With their flawless record intact, Jaissle’s men now turn their focus to their next fixture as they aim to carry this momentum into the knockout stages.

Al-Ahli’s latest win sends a strong message to their rivals, reaffirming their status as a serious contender in this year’s AFC Champions League.