DOHA: Al-Ahli of ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ defeated Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai 4-3 on penalties to progress to the quarterfinals of the AFC Champions League on Saturday.
After 120 minutes of frenetic action produced a 1-1 draw at the air-conditioned Al-Janoub Stadium, it was twice runners-up Al-Ahli who proved lucky in the shootout which saw Shabab Al-Ahli’s Ahmed Khalil and Abdullah Al-Naqbi misfiring from the spot.
Talismanic Syrian striker Omar Al-Somah had scored the equalizer for the Saudi side from a penalty in the second half, but watched in agony as his shot hit the post in the tie-breaker. But that did not matter as Al-Naqbi of Shabab also missed, sparking celebrations in the Al-Ahli camp bench.
The Saudi club were up and about from the outset and could have gone ahead early in the game but Al-Somah’s powerful header from a fine corner from German World Cupper Marko Marin slammed into the crossbar. Salman Al-Muwashar who was lurking nearby fired in the rebound but was adjudged offside.
Shabab Al-Ahli got their act together and Azizjon Ganiev tested the Saudis with a fine run from the right in the 26th minute but his fine effort was thwarted by goalkeeper Mohamed Al-Owais.
Al-Owais foiled another Ganiev effort a minute later but was not lucky a third time as the Uzbek midfielder this time decided to go for a long-ranger.
After receiving a pass from Mohammed Juma in the 28th minute, Ganiev took some time to line up his shot before unleashing a powerful drive from 27 yards that took a slight deflection from Abdulbaset Al-Hindi and beat Owais all ends up.
Ganiev, however, went from hero to villain early in the second half by bringing down Muwashar in the box and Al-Somah made no mistake from the spot to restore parity. Both sides missed several chances after that with the match eventually going to penalties.
