Toney gets winner as Al Ahli fight back to beat Vissel Kobe in AFC Champions League semis

The J-League team took the lead through Yoshinori Muto in the 31st minute in Jeddah, yet Galeno equalised 17 minutes after the break with a powerful effort, and Toney sealed Al Ahli's advancement eight minutes afterwards with a precise shot.

This victory propels Al Ahli into their second final in a row and positions Matthias Jaissle's team to potentially become the first since Al Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League to claim consecutive titles in 2005.

"We are truly delighted to reach the final once more. Achieving it back-to-back is remarkable and a great honour," Jaissle stated. "The match was challenging, just like any semi-final in this tournament. Fine margins determined the outcome."

Vissel Kobe went ahead when Katsuya Nagato's free kick from the halfway line in Al Ahli's half was headed across by Yuya Osako to the free Muto, who slid his effort beyond Edouard Mendy.

Al Ahli came close to tying the score right at the end of the first half, as Rayan Hamed nodded Galeno's free kick from the right onto the far post, followed by Toney's effort to divert Enzo Millot's cross just missing the target.

Franck Kessie nodded over shortly after the interval, and Toney had a goal disallowed for offside five minutes in as Al Ahli increased the intensity against the Japanese team.

Daiju Sasaki missed a chance to make it 2-0 for Kobe in the 54th minute, arriving unmarked in the box off Mitsuki Hidaka's pass, but he struck the bar.

That said, eight minutes on, Al Ahli drew level as Galeno fired an unerring shot from 25 yards that flew past Daiya Maekawa in goal.

Eight minutes further on, Al Ahli took the lead. Maekawa failed to deal with Galeno's delivery from the left, giving Toney room to slip his low drive under three Kobe players on the goal line.

Al Ahli will play either UAE's Shabab Al-Ahli or Japan's Machida Zelvia in the final, with that match set for Tuesday.