(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli caused the upset of the tournament so far, delivering a convincing 3-0 victory against Paris Saint-Germain, and dumping the reigning champions out of Al Kass 2016 at the group stage.
PSG came into the game knowing that only a victory could preserve their chances of reaching the knockout stage, and they started the brighter of the two sides. The Parisians kept Al Ahli's attacking threat to a minimum in the opening stages and, on 12 minutes, almost took the lead when Thimoty Weah's long-range effort flew narrowly over.
Five minutes later, the young Saudis had keeper Bakr Eissa to thank for keeping the game scoreless, after Metehen Guclu had raced clear through the inside left channel and hit a stinging shot that the Saudi shot-stopper did well to save.
However, within minutes Eissa turned from hero to villain when he inexplicably misplaced a short clearance, and Theo Epailly won the ball before teeing up Azzeddine Toufiqui, who somehow contrived to hit the left-hand post with the goal at his mercy. It was a rare lapse of concentration from the Al Ahli keeper, who was otherwise one of the game's standout performers. It was also the kind of gilt-edged opportunity that the Parisians would later regret missing.
In the early stages though, there was little to suggest that an upset was on the cards, as PSG's imposing team made life difficult for Al Ahli, who struggled to retain possession and build chances.
However, on 26 minutes The Royals burst forward in numbers, but with the French defence stretched, were unable to apply the finishing touch to a series of inviting passes. Nevertheless, the attack was a sign that the young Saudis were beginning to make headway, and centre forward Saif al-Zaqarta € wearing number 99 - was sent clear twice in quick succession, only to be beaten to the ball by keeper Thomas Chesneau on both occasions.
Al Ahli's defence remained robust, generally limiting PSG to a succession of efforts from distance, each of which was expertly handled by Eissa. With four minutes of the half remaining, Stanley Nsoki went on a superb run from halfway before producing a firm shot from 12 yards that the Al Ahli keeper was again equal to.
As the second half began, The Royals stuck to their game plan. Again content to allow PSG to shoot from distance, they also looked to play the ball early from midfield for their pacey wingers and attackers to run on to, thereby bypassing the physically dominant Paris midfield. And, on 49 minutes, the tactic paid off handsomely as the Saudis took a lead that few would have predicted.
Captain Hani al-Sibyani hit a high, first-time cross from wide on the left that looked to be going over until, at the last second, the ball dipped goalwards. Chesneau took desperate evasive action, clawing the ball out from under the crossbar, but directly into the path of the onrushing Ibrahim al-Sahhari, who gratefully side-footed home to prompt scenes of delirium on the Saudi bench.
As the game approached the hour mark, PSG withdrew Toufiqui in favour of Yacine Adli, whose display as a substitute in their 4-0 defeat to Real Madrid had been a rare positive. However, the change made little difference, as the Parisians continued to toil as they attempted to convert their impressive possession statistics into something more tangible. They attacked in numbers, but time and again were unable to apply the finishing touch to their powerful build-up play.
In the 65th minute, Al Ahli relieved the pressure on their defence when al-Sahhari ran with the ball from deep. The goalscorer came under pressure as he bore down on goal, and chose to pass when a shot may have been a better option.
A minute later Eissa was again the Saudi hero as he somehow managed to touch a powerful, point-blank header from Guclu onto the bar, when a goal seemed inevitable.
The game had become a hugely entertaining end-to-end spectacle, and al-Sahhari once again ran from his own half and rampaged down the right before finding the unmarked Faras al-Ghamdi near the penalty spot. Instead of shooting, he attempted to round Chesneau, who came out and smothered at the midfielder's feet.
PSG had been given fair warning, however, yet they continued to leave themselves wide open to the counterattack. And, in the 74th minute, al-Ghamdi made amends for his earlier mistake by finishing coolly after collecting a superb first-time pass from al-Zaqarta.
Unbelievably, the rampant Saudis added a third just two minutes later. This time the roles were reversed as al-Ghamdi turned supplier, crossing smartly for al-Zaqarta to power a stupendous diving header home.
With victory secured, The Royals were content to see the game out, retaining the ball comfortably as PSG's motivation levels understandably dropped away.
Al Ahli's victory was as thrilling as it was unexpected, their exciting counterattacking play anchored at the back by the highly talented Eissa, who put in the goalkeeping performance of the tournament so far.
And, in stark contrast to PSG's 2015 vintage containing the awesome collective firepower of Edsonne Edouard and Wilfride Kanga, this year's team has been unable to find the net in 180 minutes of football.
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