Mahrez, Fabinho ensure Jeddah duo fly RSL banner in ACL Elite Finals

Mahrez, Fabinho ensure Jeddah duo fly RSL banner in ACL Elite Finals

The Roshn Saudi League will be represented in the AFC Champions League Elite Finals, with both Al Ahli and Al Ittihad reaching the last eight.

Al Ahli, who last year landed an historic continental crown, were the first to book their spot in the quarter-finals, the Asian champions coming through Monday night’s clash with Qatar’s Al Duhail 1-0 in Jeddah.

Algeria star Riyad Mahrez, so crucial in the march to the title 12 months ago, netted the winner with a superb free-kick in the 117th minute.

Al Ahli will now face Johor Darul Ta'zim of Malaysia on Friday, as the Finals take place for the second successive year in Jeddah.

"It was a tough match, but we managed to overcome it and now we are focusing on the next round,” match-winner Mahrez said. “We always strive to give everything we have for the team.

"The fans always support us, the atmosphere is positive, and we hope to deliver our best. We want their presence and support in every match, but we realise that this depends on us delivering a good level of performance."

Then, on Tuesday night, Al Ittihad maintained their quest for a third Asian Champions League trophy with a 1-0 victory of their own in Jeddah, the RSL champions eventually seeing off UAE side Al Wahda.

Like Al Ahli, Sergio Conceicao’s men needed extra-time to progress, captain Fabinho converting a penalty in the 130th minute following a foul on Abdulrahman Al Obud.

Al Ittihad captain Fabinho converts 130th-minute penalty to send club into AFC Champions League Elite Finals

Al Ittihad, back-to-back champions in 2004 and 2005, will now go up against tournament debutants FC Machida Zelvia of Japan on Friday.

“This was a very difficult and balanced game between the two teams,” Conceicao said. “We created chances and we were more dangerous up front, but they were defensively resolute.

“I’m very happy with what we have done and proud of the players. The most important thing is that we qualified for the next round."

There was, however, disappointment for Al Hilal, with the record four-time winners exiting the tournament on Monday with a penalty-shootout defeat to Qatar’s Al Sadd.