Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli produced a spirited display in the opening game of Day Four at the under-17 Al Kass International Cup to overcome the highly-fancied Paris Saint-Germain by two goals to one.
PSG came into the match as clear favourites, having inflicted a 2-1 defeat on Real Madrid the previous evening. Meanwhile, the Spaniards had strolled to a 6-1 victory over Al Ahli earlier in the week.
So it came as a considerable shock when the Saudis went ahead inside the first minute, courtesy of the quickest goal of the tournament so far. Following a loose ball out from keeper Garlsonne Innocent, left winger Faris Alkhoraim dispossessed Abdourahmane Barry and fed Ahmed Albassas, whose low, first time shot beat the PSG stopper all ends up.
It was a sensational opening, and set the tone for a hugely entertaining first half.
With his side having played less than 24 hours earlier, PSG coach Luarent Huard made six changes to the starting line-up.
Timothy Weah, who had come off the bench to create the decisive goal against Madrid, took up a position on the left of a front three, with Virgiliu Postolachi spearheading the French attack and Yacine Adli operating on the right, having previously been deployed in central midfield.
Despite having been at least partially responsible for the mistake which led to the opening goal, PSG keeper Innocent continued to take risks, putting his defence under unnecessary pressure on a couple of occasions with short passes out, when a long punt would have done the job.
However, in the opening minutes it was Al Ahli, with a stiff wind at their backs and buoyed by the early goal, who made most of the running.
Overcoming these early challenges, PSG belatedly rose from their slumber, as Al Ahli struggled to clear their lines at the back. In the 11th minute, Adli won a free kick to the right of the Al Ahli area. Weah got on the end of a high cross and headed back across goal to Postolachi, only for the ball to cannon off his thigh and against the post before bouncing clear.
In the 18th minute, Weah popped up at the left-hand post to tap home a low cross from Adli and level the scores.
Bolstered by the equaliser, PSG began to dominate proceedings, retaining possession and probing patiently for openings.
However, Al Ahli kept their shape and also produced the occasional promising attack, with captain Yasser Ibrahim leading by example from his right back berth. And, as half time approached, the Saudis had a decent claim for a penalty turned down when Khaled Alhazmi was blocked off by Moussa Sissako as he advanced into the area from the right wing.
The second half got underway and the game settled into a familiar pattern, with much of the play concentrated in midfield.
With 15 minutes remaining, Al Ahli regained their lead. Skipper Ibrahim advanced through the middle and unleashed a stinging low shot that Innocent could only parry into the path of Haitham Asiri, who forced the ball home from close range. It was no more than the courageous Saudis deserved, having held their nerve under sustained Parisian pressure earlier in the game.

SALZBURG EDGE OUT REYSOL
In the last game on Monday night, Red Bull Salzburg broke down the stubborn resistance of Kashiwa Reysol to record a narrow victory.
Reysol had made their mark on the tournament by disposing of the highly-fancied Bayern Munich.
However, the Austrians represented a different proposition, and had Reysol hemmed in from the outset, with their physical dominance allowing them to win aerial battles and mount attacks from goal kicks.
Just as a goalless draw seemed inevitable, Red Bull broke the deadlock in the 84th minute when a Nikola Stosic free kick was floated high into the area, but nobody connected with the cross and the ball also eluded the helpless Chiwata to nestle in the far corner.
The final whistle confirmed that Red Bull’s 100 percent record remained intact.