Al-Ahli Saudi FC continued their strong continental performances, securing a resounding 5-1 victory over Iraqi side Al-Shorta in their sixth group stage match of the AFC Champions League. This win was more than just three points added to Al-Ahli's tally; it sent a powerful message to their rivals about the team's readiness to compete for the continental title this season.
Al-Ahly dominance and outstanding performance from the professionals
The match, played at the home stadium, saw Al-Ahli completely dominate, imposing their attacking style from the opening minutes. This victory further strengthens the position of Saudi clubs in this edition of the tournament, as Al-Ahli's performances are a far cry from their displays in the domestic league, reflecting the high level of focus of the players and coaching staff on winning the Asian Champions League title.
In the context of evaluating the individual performance of the players, the statistics and figures revealed a disparity in the levels of the team's stars, with the Brazilian defender Roger Ibanez emerging as the undisputed best player in the match.
Ibanez steals the show, while Demiral is the least rated
According to sports media and specialized statistical websites, Roger Ibanez the highest rating among his teammates with 8.9 points. The solid defender not only fulfilled his defensive duties but also contributed offensively by scoring a brilliant goal, confirming his high technical value in the starting lineup.
In contrast, Turkish defender Merih Demiral the lowest rating in the match with a score of 6.8 , as he struggled relatively in some tackles despite the team's wide victory, which indicates the need for the back line to have more harmony in the upcoming knockout matches.
The complete list of Al Ahly players' ratings against Al-Shorta
The numbers showed a remarkable performance from the attacking line led by Ivan Toni and Wenderson Galeno. Below is the full list of Al Ahly player ratings after the five goals:
- Roger Ibanez: 8.9 (Highest Rated)
- Ivan Tony: 8.2
- Windersson Galeno: 8.0
- Ziyad Al-Juhani: 7.8
- Abdulrahman Al-Sanabi: 7.7
- Mateo Gonçalves: 7.3
- Fahd Al-Rashidi: 7.2
- Matthieu Dames: 7.1
- Ali Majrashi: 7.0
- Merih Demiral: 6.8
- Valentine Atangana: 6.1
This victory is an important step for Al-Ahly towards securing the top spot in its group or qualifying in an advanced position, which gives it an advantage in the draw for the knockout stages, and restores confidence to Al-Ahly fans who are eager for continental titles.
