Al-Ahli 1-0 Al-Akhdoud: Franck Kessie scores an injury time winner as Roberto Firmino and Co keep up their 100 per cent record in dramatic fashion
- Al-Ahli beat Al-Akhdoud 1-0 to make it three wins from three in the Saudi league
- Franck Kessie netted a 96th minute winner after an assist from Roberto Firmino
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Former Barcelona and AC Milan star Franck Kessie chose the perfect time to score his first goal for Al-Ahli as his 96th minute winner was enough to help them beat Al-Akhdoud 1-0.
Kessie – who moved to Saudi Arabia for £10.8million after a disappointing year with the Catalan giants – headed home after Roberto Firmino got a touch on Riyad Mahrez’s cross.
Along with Kessie, Al-Ahli have strengthened with the likes of Firmino, Mahrez, Edouard Mendy, Allan Saint-Maximin and former Leeds defender Ezgjan Alioski this summer.
They started their league campaign with two 3-1 victories – against Al-Hazem and Al-Khaleej – and began the clash at the Prince Abdullah al-Faisal Stadium well.
However, they were frustrated by a resolute Al-Akhdoud outfit and despite having more than twice the number of shots of their opponents and 67 per cent of possession, they couldn’t find a way through.
Franck Kessie scored a dramatic injury time winner for Al-Ahli as they beat Al-Akhdoud 1-0
Al-Ahli were frustrated by a resolute Al-Akhdoud outfit for long periods until their late goal
Heading into 11 minutes of added time, it looked like Matthias Jaissle – who moved to the Middle East in the summer from RB Salzburg – would see his side’s 100 per cent record disappear.
But Kessie had other ideas as the PIF-backed club kept up pace with reigning champions Al-Ittihad at the top of the league.
Their overall quality ultimately told and after promotion from the second tier last season, Al-Ahli will hope for a repeat of their title winning campaign in 2015-16.
Riyad Mahrez’s sublime cross was touched on by Roberto Firmino before Kessie headed home
