AAP Soccer

England striker takes defending champs into ACL final

Apr 21, 2026

Ivan Toney has pointed the way for holders Al-Ahli to return to the final of the ACL Elite. -AP

Al-Ahli have battled back from a goal down to defeat Japan's Vissel Kobe 2-1 in the semi-finals of the ‌Asian Champions League Elite, the defending champions advancing to the final through Ivan Toney's 70th-minute strike.

Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content

Yoshinori ‌Muto gave the J-League outfit a 31st-minute lead in Jeddah on Monday but Galeno levelled 17 minutes into the second half with a thunderous strike and England international Toney confirmed Al-Ahli's progress eight minutes later with an inch-perfect finish.

The win takes Al-Ahli into a second consecutive final and keeps Matthias Jaissle's side on track to become the first team since fellow ‌Saudi Pro League ‌side Al-Ittihad to ⁠win back-to-back titles in 2005.

"We're really proud again to be in the final, back-to-back is something special and a huge honour and privilege," said Jaissle.

Kobe took the lead when Katsuya Nagato's free kick from midway inside the Al-Ahli half was nodded across goal by Yuya Osako to the unmarked Yoshinori ⁠Muto and he slid his shot past Edouard Mendy.

Rayan Hamed, Toney and Franck Kessie all went close to levelling either side of half-time but Daiju Sasaki should have doubled Kobe's lead in the 54th minute but crashed his shot against the crossbar.

Eight minutes later Al-Ahli were level when Galeno unleashed a strike from 25 yards that fizzed beyond the reach of goalkeeper Daiya Maekawa.

Maekawa then flapped at Galeno's cross from the left allowing Toney the time and space to slide his low finish past three Kobe defenders on the line.

Al-Ahli will face either Shabab Al-Ahli from the United Arab Emirates or ⁠Japan's Machida Zelvia in the final with the pair due to meet on Tuesday.