Firmino, Toney, Al Buraikan fire Al Ahli into AFC Champions League final

Roberto Firmino and Ivan Toney helped fire Al Ahli into the AFC Champions League Elite final, following a 3-1 victory against fellow Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal on Tuesday.

The Jeddah club, effectively playing at home with the continental tournament's latter stages taking place in the port city, will now face either Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr or Japan's Kawasaki Frontale on Saturday as they chase Asia's top club trophy.

Al Ahli enjoyed an ideal start at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium. In the ninth minute, Brazilian winger Galeno raced to the byline and cut back the ball for compatriot Firmino to finish emphatically.

The former Liverpool forward, who serves as Al Ahli's captain despite not being registered to play in their Saudi Pro League matches, took his tally for the tournament to six goals.

Al Ahli increased their lead to 2-0 just before the half-hour mark. Riyad Mahrez put Toney through on goal with a defense-splitting pass, leaving the Englishman to round goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and roll the ball into the net.

Toney, a summer signing from English Premier League club Brentford, moved alongside Firmino on the scoring chart. Meanwhile former Leicester and Manchester City winger Mahrez leads the tournament in assists with eight.

Record four-time Asian champions Al Hilal halved the deficit three minutes before halftime, when captain Salem Al Dawsari pounced on an inadvertent touch from Al Ahli midfielder Franck Kessie, and slammed home his 10th goal of the campaign. Al Dawsari now leads the scoring chart by one.

A frantic second half ensued with Toney having two strikes ruled offside, Firmino and Galeno hitting the post, and Al Hilal getting reduced to 10 men right before the hour mark as former Chelsea defender Kalidou Koulibaly received a second yellow card after upending Roger Ibañez.

Kessie then saw his 85th-minute penalty kick saved by Bounou when Mahrez was felled in the area, before substitute Feras Al Buraikan sealed the result deep into stoppage time, moments after being introduced.

Runners-up in 2012, their only previous appearance in the final, Al Ahli remain the only unbeaten side in this season's competition.

Al Nassr and Kawasaki Frontale will meet in the other semifinal on Wednesday, also at King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, with an all-Saudi championship contest still possible.