Two semifinals, two shattered dreams, and two teams still in the running in the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Elite. Machida Zelvia and Al Ahli Saudi are dreaming of lifting the trophy. Vissel Kobe and Shabab Al Ahli Dubai have been eliminated, and both are protesting the referees’ decisions. Here’s a recap of the semifinals.
Machida Zelvia won 1-0... again
On a historic night for Japanese soccer, FC Machida Zelvia wrote a new chapter in its meteoric rise. The team, which was playing in Japan’s second division just three years ago, reached its first AFC Champions League Elite semifinal and won it thanks to solid defense and an early goal.
Yuki Soma, starting after missing the quarterfinals, capitalized on a mistake by Serbian center back Bogdan Planić to steal the ball, dribble past goalkeeper Hamad Al-Meqbaali, and open the scoring in the 12th minute. From there, Machida sat back and limited Shabab Al Ahli to long-range shots.
The match, however, will be remembered for the controversy in the 92nd minute. Guilherme Bala scored a goal that appeared to force extra time, but VAR disallowed the goal due to a premature restart from a throw-in while Machida was still completing a substitution. Referee Shaun Evans was surrounded by Emirati players and required a police escort to leave the field at the end of the match.
With this result, Machida Zelvia will face defending champions Al Ahli of Saudi Arabia in Saturday’s final, in a matchup unprecedented in Asian soccer.
Vissel Kobe was too close, but...
In a hard-fought semifinal match, Al Ahli Saudi FC lived up to its status as the heavy favorite and advanced to the continental tournament’s final. The Saudi team, the defending champion, came back from an early goal by Yoshinori Muto (31’) for Vissel Kobe with goals from Galeno (62’) and Ivan Toney (70’), sealing a 2-1 victory that keeps their title defense alive.
With this result, Al Ahli will face another Japanese side in the final on April 25: Machida Zelvia, which defeated the Emirati team Shabab Al Ahli 1-0. The final, held in Jeddah, serves as the grand finale of a tournament that has further solidified the influence of Middle Eastern clubs on the Asian soccer scene. For Japanese soccer, Machida Zelvia’s presence and dream will unite all fans who oppose the Saudi-led shift the AFC has been undergoing in recent years.
Cover image made with Gemini AI.