Al Ahli, the UAE's sole remaining representative in the Asian Champions League, will face Iranian side Naft Tehran in the quarter-finals after the draw was announced in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.
The Arabian Gulf League side, who eliminated domestic rivals Al Ain at the last-16 stage last month, will travel to the Iranian capital for the first leg on August 26 before returning to Dubai for the return fixture on September 16.
Cosmin Olaroiu and his side will hope to replicate the success Al Ain had against Naft Tehran in the group stages when the Arabian Gulf League champions drew away from home and produced a convincing 3-0 victory in the Garden City.
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Ahli have already come up against Iranian opposition in this year’s tournament. They defeated Tractor Sazi 3-2 in their home tie last month in the group stages thanks to two goals in the final 13 minutes from Ahmed Khalil, a result that ensured they qualified as runner-up from Group D for the knockout stages.
Elsewhere in the West Asia zone, last season’s finalists Al Hilal host Qatari side Lekhwiya on August 25 before travelling to Doha on September 15.
The Saudi Arabia club will be forced to play the first leg at home in an empty stadium after the Asian Football Confederation banned spectators following crowd trouble in a previous round.
In the East Asia zone, Japanese club Kashiwa Reysol have been drawn against 2013 champions Guangzhou Evergrande. The first leg will take place on August 25, with the return scheduled for September 15. Completing the line-up, South Korean side Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors will face Japan’s Gamba Osaka on August 26 and September 16.
FULL DRAW FOR ASIAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTER-FINALS
First leg
August 25
Al Hilal v Lekhwiya
Kashiwa Reysol v Guangzhou Evergrande
August 26
Naft Tehran v Al Ahli
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors v Gamba Osaka
Second leg
September 15
Lekhwiya v Al Hilal
Guangzhou Evergrande v Kashiwa Reysol
September 16
Al Ahli v Naft Tehran
Gamba Osaka v Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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