Al Sadd SC produced a remarkable response to overturn a two-goal deficit and defeat Shabab Al Ahli 4-2 during their AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ meeting at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Tuesday.
Al Sadd SC produced a remarkable response to overturn a two-goal deficit and defeat Shabab Al Ahli 4-2 during their AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26™ meeting at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Tuesday.
Federico Cartabia and Yahya Al Ghassani had placed the visitors firmly in control, leaving the Qatari side close to an early exit before momentum swung dramatically.
Rafa Mujica then became the decisive figure, striking three times to completely reshape the contest and ignite belief inside the stadium.
Tarek Salman sealed the comeback with an additional goal as Al Sadd claimed their first victory of the campaign and revived qualification ambitions.
Mujica highlighted inner conviction and backing from the technical staff as crucial elements behind his decisive display.
He explained that the contest demanded patience and resilience, especially after falling two goals behind during a challenging encounter.
The forward credited encouragement from the bench for giving him the freedom to express himself and deliver a match-winning contribution.
Personal satisfaction followed, alongside gratitude towards the coaching staff for placing trust in his ability at a critical moment.
Roberto Mancini applauded collective spirit and persistence, describing the result as fully deserved despite earlier setbacks, including conceding from the penalty spot.
He stressed that continued effort and unity allowed his players to recover and maintain pressure until the closing stages.
Mancini added that the triumph could serve as a catalyst for improvement across domestic competitions and continental duties, provided focus remains high.
On the opposite side, Paulo Sousa expressed disappointment after seeing control slip away, noting that his team had dictated proceedings until late phases.
He acknowledged football’s unpredictability, admitting that surrendering a two-goal advantage to finish with defeat proved extremely hard to accept.
