AFC Champions League Elite Quarter-finals
Al Sadd 3 - 3 PEN 4-5 Vissel Kobe
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
6' R. Mujica (A. Afif)
Y. Osako (G. Sakai) 24'
HT
46' ↓ Pedro Miguel ↑T. Salman
61' R. Mujica (Roberto Firmino)
65' Roberto Firmino (R. Mujica)
↓ D. Sasaki ↑M. Mitsuta 67'
↓ Y. Goke ↑Jean Patric 67'
Y. Ideguchi (Jean Patric) 74'
↓ T. Ogihara ↑K. Hamasaki 81'
↓ G. Sakai ↑R. Hirose 81'
82' ↓ M. Camara ↑Giovani
↓ Y. Ideguchi ↑M. Hidaka 89'
90' ↓ R. Mujica ↑A. Suhail
Y. Muto (R. Hirose) 90'+3
↓ M. Thuler ↑Caetano 93'
96' ↓ R. Saiss ↑J. Dilrosun
S. Gonda 108'
120'+1 Roberto Firmino
Y. Osako 120'+1
120'+2 A. Soria
Y. Muto 120'+2
120'+3 Claudinho
M. Hidaka 120'+3
120'+4 B. Khoukhi
K. Nagato 120'+4
120'+5 A. Afif
Jean Patric 120'+5
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Al Sadd
Goalkeepers
Meshaal Aissa Barsham 
SIEVE
25%
Save %
25%
Save %
3
Conceded
1
Saves
Defenders
Pedro Miguel 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
Boualem Khoukhi 
CLUTCH HERO
120
Goal Time
120
Goal Time
Penalty
Impact
6.7
Rating
Romain Saiss 
STORMTROOPER
3
Shots
3
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Paulo Otávio 
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
26%
Pass Acc
Midfielders
Agustín Soria
CLUTCH HERO
120
Goal Time
120
Goal Time
Penalty
Impact
6.9
Rating
Mohamed Camara
LATE SHIFT
8
Late Mins
8
Late Mins
82
Total Mins
82
Entry
Claudinho
CLUTCH HERO
120
Goal Time
120
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
7.9
Rating
Akram Afif
CLUTCH HERO
120
Goal Time
120
Goal Time
Penalty
Impact
7.5
Rating
Forwards
Roberto Firmino
CLUTCH HERO
120
Goal Time
120
Goal Time
Penalty
Impact
9.5
Rating
Rafa Mújica 
HITMAN
2
Goals
2
Goals
2
On Target
10
Rating
BENCH
Saad Al Sheeb 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Yousef Abdullah Balideh
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Tarek Salman
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
75
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ahmed Suhail
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
31
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Abdulrahman Bakri Al-Ameen
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Younes El Hannach
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ali Assadalla
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Giovani
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
38
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Javairô Dilrosun
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
24
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Abdulla Al Yazidi
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Hassan Al Haydos
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Hashim Ali
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Vissel Kobe
Goalkeepers
Daiya Maekawa
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
120
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Gotoku Sakai
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
1
Assists
36%
Pass Acc
Tetsushi Yamakawa 
MAGNET
101
Activity
101
Activity
96
Passes
5
Duels
Thuler 
NPC
90
Minutes
90
Minutes
60%
Pass Acc
6.2
Rating
Katsuya Nagato
CLUTCH HERO
120
Goal Time
120
Goal Time
Penalty
Impact
6.6
Rating
Midfielders
Takahiro Ogihara
LATE SHIFT
9
Late Mins
9
Late Mins
81
Total Mins
81
Entry
Yosuke Ideguchi 
FINISHER
1
Goals
1
Goals
3
Shots
7.3
Rating
Yoshinori Muto
CLUTCH HERO
90
Goal Time
90
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
7
Rating
Yuta Goke
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
67
Total Mins
67
Entry
Daiju Sasaki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
67
Total Mins
67
Entry
Forwards
Yuya Osako
CLUTCH HERO
120
Goal Time
120
Goal Time
Penalty
Impact
7.5
Rating
BENCH
Shuichi Gonda
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Rikuto Hirose 
SUPER SUB
1
Assist
1
Assist
39
Minutes
6.9
Rating
Caetano
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
30
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Boniface Nduka
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nanasei Iino
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kento Hamasaki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
39
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mitsuki Hidaka
CLUTCH HERO
120
Goal Time
120
Goal Time
Penalty
Impact
6.6
Rating
Yuya Kuwasaki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Takashi Inui
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Makoto Mitsuta
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
53
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jean Patric
CLUTCH HERO
120
Goal Time
120
Goal Time
Penalty
Impact
6.2
Rating
Kotaro Uchino
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Vissel Kobe Survive Six-Goal Epic at Prince Abdullah al-Faisal Stadium
Must-Watch Futmetrix Score: 100/100. A breathless quarter-final tie where an unfathomable 90th-minute equaliser forced a nerve-shredding shootout.
Early Exchanges
The Stakes were unmistakably high from the opening whistle in this single-leg knockout tie. Al Sadd surrendered territory early but drew first blood when Rafa Mújica found the back of the net after just six minutes. Unfazed by the hostile start, Vissel Kobe dominated possession, holding 61% of the ball as they methodically searched for a response. Their patience was rewarded when Y. Osako restored parity in the 24th minute, resetting the tactical board. Both sides traded blows as the shot count began its dizzying climb, turning the pitch into an open arena.
The 90th-Minute Miracle
The second half brought a devastating blitz from the Qataris that completely shifted the Balance of the tie. Mújica doubled his tally before setting up Roberto Firmino just four minutes later, leaving Kobe staring down a 3-1 deficit. But the Japanese side refused to fold. The Intensity skyrocketed as Y. Ideguchi clawed one back with 15 minutes remaining. A massive barrage of 47 combined shots flew over the course of the match, culminating in pure pandemonium. Deep into stoppage time, Y. Muto delivered a dramatic 90th-minute equaliser to cap off a miraculous comeback and force the contest into an extra 30 minutes.
Penalty Heartbreak
After a tense extra time period could not separate the sides, the quarter-final destiny came down to spot-kicks. The shootout was a test of iron nerves, and Kobe proved flawless. While Osako, Muto, and the rest of the visiting contingent dispatched their penalties with clinical precision, the pressure eventually took its toll on Al Sadd. Claudinho stepped up for the hosts' third attempt, but his crucial miss cracked the door wide open. Jean Patric stepped up to bury the decisive fifth penalty, securing a 5-4 shootout victory. Vissel Kobe march on to the semi-finals, leaving a shattered Al Sadd behind.
Key Questions
Was the penalty miss by Rafa Mújica the turning point?
Rafa Mújica did not miss a penalty; it was Claudinho whose shootout miss proved to be the ultimate turning point that eliminated Al Sadd.
What made Rafa Mújica the Man of the Match?
He earned a flawless 10.0 rating by scoring a spectacular brace and providing an assist, constantly tearing through the opposition's defensive lines.
What caused the 6-goal thriller?
A relentless barrage of 47 combined shots and Vissel Kobe's refusal to surrender a two-goal deficit created this magnificent, chaotic spectacle.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Quarter-Final Crunch Time at King Abdullah Sports City
Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 75/100. A classic clash of styles awaits as Vissel Kobe's road resilience meets an Al Sadd side desperate to correct their glaring home woes with a semi-final spot on the line.
The Setup
This April 16, 2026 showdown is two steps from continental glory. Stepping out onto the pitch at King Abdullah Sports City, both squads know exactly what is on the line. Al Sadd face a massive psychological hurdle; a dire twenty-five percent home win rate casts a dark shadow over their AFC Champions League Elite campaign. They have consistently struggled to establish dominance in front of their own supporters. Conversely, Vissel Kobe enter as away specialists, bringing a formidable Form rating into enemy territory after winning sixty percent of their matches on the road. The Balance of power might tip slightly toward the visitors based on their defensive consistency, yet the pre-match probabilities strangely favor the Qatari hosts. With an off-the-charts Stakes factor driving the undeniable intensity of a knockout quarter-final, the pressure is immense for both dugouts. Given a combined historical output of 3.5 goals per game, an elite Stars rating across the attacking lines guarantees tactical fireworks in the final third.
Key Battle
The defining clash will be a tactical test of pure firepower against organized defensive grit. Al Sadd's Rafa Mújica has been terrorizing backlines all tournament and must find a way to break down Vissel Kobe's defensive anchor, Thuler. If the visitors can successfully neutralize the home side's primary attacking outlet, their path to the semi-finals becomes significantly clearer.
Our Prediction
Expect Vissel Kobe to ruthlessly exploit the hosts' well-documented home anxieties. While Al Sadd possesses the raw attacking talent to find the net early, Kobe's clinical away record and structured midfield will allow them to absorb pressure and counter effectively. Our verdict is a dramatic 2-1 victory for the visitors, booking their ticket to the semi-finals.