Pusic keeps Al Ahli winning run alive – but history makes fifth game a concern

Marino Pusic has matched Matthias Jaissle’s perfect start as Al Ahli manager after leading the Asian champions to a 1-0 victory over New Zealand side Auckland FC in the opening fixture of the 2026 Intercontinental Cup on Wednesday.

The Dutchman has now won all four of the matches played by Al Ahli since taking charge, reproducing the opening run achieved by Jaissle during the 2023-24 season.

However, Jaissle’s sequence also provides a warning. According to Saudi newspaper Al Riyadiyah, the German won his first four games in charge before suffering defeat in his fifth match.

Jaissle’s first four victories began with a 3-1 win against Al Hazem. Al Ahli then beat Al Khaleej by the same scoreline, defeated Al Okhdood 1-0 and overcame Al Tai 2-0.

The run was eventually ended by a heavy 5-1 defeat by Al Fateh in Jaissle’s fifth game.

The former Al Ahli manager’s time at the club ultimately brought major success, including two AFC Champions League Elite titles and the Saudi Super Cup. Jaissle resigned before the start of the current season and subsequently joined English club Newcastle United.

His departure led Al Ahli to appoint Pusic on a two-year contract.

Pusic began his tenure with a 1-0 victory over Al-Diriyah in the opening round of the Saudi Pro League. He then guided the team to a 2-1 win against Al-Anwar in the last 32 of the King’s Cup.

Al Ahli followed that result by beating Abha 4-0 in the second round of the league before securing the narrow victory over Auckland FC.

The win against Auckland FC sent Al Ahli through to the next match in the Africa-Asia-Pacific pathway of the 2026 Intercontinental Cup. It also ensured that Pusic has so far maintained the same perfect record that Jaissle established at the beginning of his Al Ahli career.

His next opportunity to extend that run will come on Saturday, when Al Ahli travel to face Al Kholood in the fourth round of the Saudi Pro League.

That fixture will be watched with particular interest because a victory would allow Pusic to move beyond Jaissle’s opening four-match sequence. A defeat, meanwhile, would make the Dutchman’s start diverge from the run recorded by the current Newcastle United manager, who lost his fifth game after winning his first four.