Shabab Al Ahli Dubai stun Al-Ittihad to claim AFC Champions League Elite win

Shabab Al Ahli Dubai secured a valuable 2-1 victory over Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad in the AFC Champions League Elite at the hosts’ stadium in Jeddah.

Iranian forward Sardar Azmoun gave the visitors a commanding early advantage, scoring twice inside the opening 16 minutes. His first goal came in the seventh minute before he struck again nine minutes later to put Shabab Al Ahli Dubai 2-0 ahead.

Al-Ittihad responded after the interval and reduced the deficit through Colombian midfielder Richard Rios, who scored in the 66th minute.

However, Shabab Al Ahli Dubai held on to claim all three points away from home.

Brazilian player Juan Bizerra, who recently joined Shabab Al Ahli Dubai from Zamalek, was named among the substitutes but did not feature.

The result lifted Shabab Al Ahli Dubai to six points and fourth place in the league phase of the AFC Champions League Elite.

Al-Ittihad remain 11th in the table with one point.