In the aftermath of Al Ahli’s loss to Guangzhou Evergrande in the Asian Champions League final in November, Cosmin Olaroiu said that, for his team, this marked the start of Ahli’s season, not the end.
His words may have been designed to lift the spirits of his dejected players, but in many ways it was the moment were Al Ahli would kick-start their domestic campaign. Their involvement in Asia’s premier club competition until that point had meant they were always playing catch up to champions and leaders Al Ain in the Arabian Gulf League.
Twenty-four hours after their 1-0 loss in China, Al Ahli trailed Al Ain by four points but with three games in hand. On December 5, Al Ain handed Al Ahli their first defeat of the season, 3-0, at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, to widen the gap, with Al Ahli now down to two games in hand.
When Al Ain hit the halfway point of the season, Al Ahli were now a massive 10 points and three games behind.
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In the last week alone though they have won two of those games. A win for Al Ahli on Monday at Al Wasl could see them close the gap to one point and ignite one of the best title fights in years.
Not since Al Ahli themselves won the inaugural Pro League season in 2008/09 by a point from Al Jazira has there been a finale that did not see the champions win by a margin of at least seven points.
Three points for Olaroiu on Monday will see Ahli well and truly in title contention. Ironically, their dismal league performance last season – Ahli finished seventh, 22 points behind champions Al Ain – might prove to be a blessing in disguise. Unlike the Al Ain, Al Ahli will not be taking part in this year’s Champions League with the group phase commencing next month. It could be Al Ain doing the chasing by then.
Save for the Champions League heartbreak, Olaroiu could not have wished for a better end to 2015. Senegal striker Moussa Sow has hit the goal trail, Everton Ribeiro and Rodrigo Lima have been a constant attacking threat, Ismail Al Hammadi has had a wonderful season, and Ahmed Khalil has been named Asia's Player of the Year. The award may have surprised some of his critics who still detect inconsistencies in his play, but it was also confirmation that he has taken his own game to a new level.
The trip to Zabeel Stadium will be no easy task, particularly as Lima is now injured and could miss an extended period of time. South Korean midfielder Kwon Kyung-won is also out.
This particular derby one of the most important for local rivals Al Wasl, whose own recent good form has seen them knocking on the door for a Champions League place. Gabriel Calderon’s team are only three points behind third-place Al Nasr, and any sort of win on Monday will see them leapfrog their neighbours on goal difference.
Much for Wasl will depend on the form of Caio Canedo and the so-far-disappointing Edgar Bruno.
Calderon will need the Brazilian duo to be at their best but even that might not be enough to beat a buoyant Al Ahli. Having come so near to their title challengers, Olaroiu’s men will be looking to make it a memorable second half to the season.
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