Vissel Kobe 1-1 Al‑Ahli LIVE Score, AFC Champions League: Muto Puts Japanese Side Ahead Against Defending Champs

What an unbelievable goal from Galeno to draw Al-Ahli level!! The Saudi side take a corner from the right, which Maekawa saves. The ball is recycled to Mahrez, who plays it to Millot. The Frenchman lays it off for Galeno, who takes a touch and then pulls the trigger from 25 yards out. The rocket strike flies past the goalkeeper's reach and into the back of the net.

Al-Ahli head coach Matthias Jaissle is booked by the referee for his continued complaints about a supposed handball in the box. The ball did hit the hands of a Kobe player, but he was down on the turf and trying to balance himself. Never going to be given a penalty.

What a strike from Sasaki, and it clatters against the woodwork!! It was a brilliant move from Kobe, aided by some haphazarad defending from Al-Ahli. A cutback from the right finds Sasaki, who catches the ball cleanly with his left. It beats Mendy but thumps against the crossbar.

Toney finds the back of the net, but the offside flag goes up. A first-time ball from Mahrez finds Toney, who breaks the Vissel Kobe defensive line. He uses his body to shield the ball before slotting it into the back of the net. It looked offside in real time, and replays show that it was a much more marginal call, but offside nonetheless.

Al-Ahli have started the second half on the front foot. Vissel Kobe players switch off for a moment, and a long ball from the right finds Ibanez. The former Roma defender leaps in the air and heads towards the far post. It fizzes just the goal, with the onrushing Kessie missing it by inches.

The players are out of the tunnel and onto the pitch. One change at the break for Vissel Kobe, with Hidaka replacing Goke. There's a strong Japanese contingent in the stands, who are trying to drown the jeers from the home support. Al-Ahli take the kick-off to get the second half underway.

The referee blows his whistle to bring the first half to an end. Vissel Kobe go into the break with a slender lead courtesy of Muto's fine strike. Meanwhile, Al-Ahli have it all to do in the second half if they want to make it to back-to-back AFC Champions League finals.

Galeno floats in the ball from the free-kick, and it is met by a diving Rayan Hamed. However, the youngster's header clips against the right post and goes away from the danger area.

Kessie is clipped right on the edge of the box by Sakai, and Al-Ahli win a free-kick in a dangerous area. The veteran centre-back also sees a yellow card for his efforts.

This is the most important match in Vissel Kobe's history, and the Japanese side are playing like this. Al-Ahli have responded well since going down, but Kobe are pushing up the field any chance they get. The occasion gets a bit too much for for Mitsuta, who gets a booking for a clumsy challenge.

Muto puts Vissel Kobe ahead!! It comes from a free-kick, that Nagato flots in towards the box. Osako meets with a downward header towards his teammate, and Muto pokes it in with his left past Mendy. VAR confirms the goal after Osako is adjudged to be onside.

A superb counter-attacking move from Vissel Kobe after Kessie gives away the ball almost catches the Al-Ahli defence sleeping. Sakai, of all people, pushes ahead and attempts to cut it back, but it's cleared away.

We are approaching the half-hour mark. Vissel Kobe have marginally enjoyed more of the ball, but the minnows have dominated the attacking tempo of the contest, with two shots and one on target. Al-Ahli are slowly finding their footing in the game, but they are yet to test Maekawa's goal.

In the opening part of the first half, it has been all Vissel Kobe. Other than an odd forward move or two, Al-Ahli have been chasing the ball in their own half. The Japanese side get another chance as a forward is played through. The ball returns to Ideguchi, but he opts for a first time shot which bobbles away harmless. He had much more time than he realised.

One would have expected Vissel Kobe to essentially park the bus in the early stages of the game. However, it has been a really positive start from the Japanese side, who are pushing the Al-Ahli defence high up on the pitch and looking to take the game against the home side.

It's an incredible atmosphere at the King Abdullah Sports City, with the Al-Ahli fans making themselves heard in large numbers. Amid the wave of green on the stands, the referee blows his whistle, and Vissel Kobe take the kick-off to get tonight's semi-final underway.

Meanwhile, back in Japan, there was a massive 7.7 earthquake that struck the north-east coast 530 km from Tokyo. Authorities have issued a 3m tsunami warning, and also warned about the risk of a "huge" earthquake in the coming weeks.

Tonight's match is the first-ever meeting between Vissel Kobe and Al-Ahli.

Starting XI: Edouard Mendy (gk) (c), Zakaria Al Hawsawi, Valentin Atangana, Merih Demiral, Galeno, Rayan Hamed Hamidou, Roger Ibanez, Franck Kessie, Riyad Mahrez, Enzo Millot, Ivan Toney.

Bench: Abdullah Abdo (gk), Abdulrahman Al Sanbi (gk), Mohammed Abdulrahman, Saleh Abu Al Shamat, Firas Al Buraikan, Ziyad Al Johani, Eid Al Muwallad, Matteo Dams, Yazan Madani, Matheus Goncalves, Ricardo Mathias, Mohammed Sulaiman.

Starting XI: Daiya Maekawa (gk), Yuta Goke, Yosuke Ideguchi, Makoto Mitsuta, Yoshinori Muto, Katsuya Nagato, Yuya Osako, Gotoku Sakai, Daiju Sasaki, Matheus Thuler, Tetsushi YAmakawa (c).

Bench: Shuichi Gonda (gk), Caetano, Kento Hamasaki, Mitsuki Hidaka, Rikuto Hirose, Nanasei Iino, Takashi Inui, Jean Patric, Ren Komatsu, Yuya Kuwasaki, Boniface Nduka, Kaito Yamada.

Vissel Kobe: None

Al-Ahli: Valentin Atangana Edoa (discomfort), Zakaria Hawsawi (knee), Ali Majrashi (hamstring).

• Fixture: Vissel Kobe vs Al-Ahli

• Series: AFC Champions League Elite 2025-26

• Venue: Alinma Bank Stadium, King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah

• Date: Monday, April 20, 2026

• Time: 9:45 PM IST

Good evening, football fans! This is the start of our live blog covering the AFC Champions League Elite semi-final between Vissel Kobe and Al-Ahli. Stay tuned for pre-match updates and line-ups as they are released.