DUBAI // Al Ahli have resolved to do everything in their power to lift the Asian Champions League trophy next month, according to goalkeeper Ahmed Dida.
The Dubai club defeated Al Hilal in a dramatic semi-final second leg on Tuesday night, with Kwon Kyung-won scoring in injury time at the Rashid Stadium to secure a 3-2 victory. Ahli, who were originally 2-0 up in the match, sealed the tie 4-3 on aggregate.
In doing so, they became
only the second UAE side to qualify for the final of Asian’s premier club football competition, after Al Ain in 2003 and 2005. Al Ain clinched the title in 2003.
Ahli, contesting the knockout stages for the first time, now face China’s Guangzhou Evergrande across two legs, with the first taking place in Dubai on November 7. The return encounter will be played at the Guangzhou Tianhe Sport Centre on November 21.
Speaking immediately after the Hilal win, Dida said Ahli are talented enough to become Asian champions.
“Inshallah, we’ll fight for the dream,” he said. “We have started the season so well and we have got used to it now. Each step we take, we look forward to do our best.
“It’s amazing, something different – the first time in our history. But it’s not just about us, but all the club. It’s never happened before. It’s just amazing, something special. It couldn’t be any better.”
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Ahli seemed set for the final when they went into half time with a 3-1 aggregate lead following goals from Rodrigo Lima and Everton Ribeiro.
However, Hilal fought back at the beginning of the second half, with Ailton Almeida and Carlos Eduardo levelling the tie by the 64th minute. At that time, the Saudi Arabian side were poised to advance on the away-goal rule.
Yet Kwon’s deflected shot in the fourth minute of injury time reversed the result, leaving Ahli two matches from the Champions League crown.
“We didn’t give up,” Dida said. “We were fighting to score, trying to get back. That was our goal, we were fighting and, yeah, thankfully we could do it.”
The victory was especially sweet for Kwon, whose own goal in the final minute of June’s President’s Cup final sent that match into extra time. Al Nasr eventually triumphed on penalties.
Kwon, signed by Ahli in January, revealed his parents had travelled from South Korea to be in attendance on Tuesday night, and that they were reduced to tears by his match-winner.
“Last season, I made a mistake in the President’s Cup, but today I’m happier, much happier,” Kwon said. “We’ve all made this together, everyone achieved the result. Now we have to prepare well for the final.”
Meanwhile, Kwon’s partner in central defence, Salmeen Khamis, urged his side not to dwell on the Hilal triumph, saying: “Our journey starts from this point on. We should forget about today.
“Of course, we are happy with the qualification, but the next mission is the most important. From now on, we will start thinking and getting ready for the final.
“Al Ahli’s ambition extends beyond progression. We will fight for the title. We should think about making history for the club and for ourselves and should give it our best.”
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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