Asian Champions League: Al Ahli return from Saudi Arabia with draw and precious away goal

Khamis Esmail, pictured centre left against Esteghlal in the Asian Champions League group stage, scored the crucial away goal for Al Ahli against Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli in the last-16 first leg. Antonie Robertson / The NationalShow less

Following a week of the unexpected and the uncertain, Al Ahli appear suddenly on slightly sounder footing in the Asian Champions League.

The 2015 runners-up, playing their first match since news last week the club is to merge with Al Shabab and Dubai club, forced a draw at namesakes Al Ahli on Monday night in the first leg of their last-16 encounter, departing Saudi Arabia with a share of the spoils and a precious away goal.

To their credit, Ahli were granted a deserved lead 20 minutes into the game at King Abdullah Sports City. Initially, Everton Ribeiro’s deep free-kick seemed relatively straightforward to deal with, but goalkeeper Yasser Al Mosailem and Saad Abdulamir both went for the ball and got into a mess, leaving a grateful Khamis Esmail to drill a low shot into the home goal. The two teammates for the hosts could be seen squabbling as their rivals wheeled away in celebration.

The Dubai side could have doubled it not long after, too, but Makhete Diop, their top-scorer in this year’s competition, twice shot off the target. Returning from suspension, the Senegalese striker first chipped wide from a difficult angle on the right. Then, having muscled his way through the opposition defence, Diop lost balance and skewed his shot.

Moments later, the Saudi Arabians were level. Salmeen Khamis was caught too far up field, encouraging Mohammed Abdelshafy to collect the ball and advance before chipping a beautifully weighted through-ball to Abdulfattah Asiri. The Saudi midfielder did not need to break stride, thumping a fine half-volley low past Majed Naser.

Ahli Jeddah should have then gone into half time a goal to the good, but Abdelshafy headed wide Giannis Fetfatzidis’ free-kick.

A scrappy second half played out thereafter, although Ahli manager Cosmin Olaroiu was convinced his side were denied a penalty when Saeed Ahmed was upended in the Saudi’s penalty area. Replays suggested he maybe had a point.

The hosts, who have never lost a knockout match at home in the Champions League, should have won the match late on, but Fetfatzidis placed his shot wide with only Naser to beat. Then, Abdelshafy volleyed over somehow when free of his marker and only six yards out.

So it finished a draw and the delicately poised clash moves onto the Rashid Stadium on Monday.​

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