Al-Ahli Held to Draw by Al-Sadd Amid Mounting Pressure on Coach

Al-Ahli of Saudi Arabia faced further turmoil after playing to a 0-0 draw against Qatar's Al-Sadd during the fourth round of the AFC Champions League Elite. The stalemate added to a difficult period for the club, which is currently chasing an unprecedented third consecutive continental title.

The result followed a heavy 6-1 defeat against Al-Shabab in the 12th round of the Roshn Pro League just days prior. Technical and administrative instability has begun to grip the club, fueling intense speculation regarding the future of Dutch head coach Marino Pusic.

During the match against Al-Sadd, Al-Ahli suffered an early blow when French midfielder Valentin Atangana sustained an injury in the first half and had to be replaced by Ziyad Al-Johani. Despite controlling much of the play and creating several scoring chances, the Saudi side failed to break the deadlock.

Frustrated supporters voiced their discontent both during the game and after the final whistle, chanting "Pusic out" from the stands. When leaving the pitch, Pusic did not approach the supporters, explaining afterward that he preferred to allow the players to receive the acknowledgment from the crowd.

Addressing the match outcome, Pusic expressed disappointment despite praising his team's performance. "The draw feels like a defeat; we gained one point, but lost two points according to the development of the encounter," he stated, noting that the opposing goalkeeper earned man-of-the-match honors due to Al-Ahli's offensive pressure.

Meanwhile, Al-Sadd entered the match seeking to revive their continental campaign under coach Razvan Lucescu. The Qatari side had collected only one point from their opening three matches before securing the scoreless draw against the defending champions, keeping their qualification hopes alive with five matches remaining in the group stage.