After a slow start to the game, Al Seeb carved open Al Ahli with an incisive move in the 22nd minute with Hassan Al Ajmi’s cross finding Abdulaziz Al Maqbali who scuffed his first attempt but had the calmness to play it back for Eid Al Farsi to blast home the opener.

The intensity of the game went up a notch after that with Facundo Tobares nearly drawing Al Ahli level 10 minutes later, his curling shot from outside the box was heading for the top corner but Bilal Al Balushi produced an outstanding save.

Al Ahli created another good chance two minutes before the end of the first half with Baqer Al Asfoor winning possession high up the pitch and working the ball to Hassan Madan, who struck a low shot that Al Balushi did well to push away.

The first five minutes after the break saw Al Ahli heaping huge pressure on Al Seeb’s defence with shots from Carlos Vigaray, Tobares, Saleh Enad and Madan but none was able to find the mark. 

Having survived the early onslaught, Al Seeb started seeing more of the ball and went close to doubling their lead in the 65th minute when Ali Al Busaidi beat the offside trap to set up Al Maqbali who sent his shot wide.

The 35-year-old forward was presented with another opportunity soon after following a great run from Jameel Al Yahmadi but was thwarted by Al Ahli custodian Ebrahim Lutfalla but it made little difference as Al Seeb went on to claim their second consecutive win.

Al Seeb will next take on Hilal Alquds of Palestine while Al Ahli will face Syria’s Al Futowa SC, with both matches to take place on Friday.