DUBAI // Beaten President’s Cup finalists last year, Al Ahli moved one step closer to making amends on Thursday night.
That defeat 12 months ago, to fierce rivals Al Ain, stung the Dubai club, especially since it ended the hopes of last season’s UAE champions for an unprecedented treble.
The intervening period has been troublesome, at times traumatic.
Hauled down from their Arabian Gulf League perch and having relinquished the Arabian Gulf Cup, too, Ahli realised this represented their final opportunity to conclude the campaign with one of the country's most prestigious trophies.
So they began a new competition with fresh impetus. Drawn in the last 16 against Kalba, a club freshly relegated from the AGL, Cosmin Olaroiu's men did what was expected of them – eventually.
Following a largely forgettable first half at the Rashid Stadium, Ahli found their rhythm soon after the break, scoring through goals from Oussama Assaidi and Ahmed Khalil.
Ten minutes apart, the first arrived via Assaidi’s half-volley, the Moroccan controlling Ismail Al Hammadi’s miscued shot before placing the ball past Saif Rashed.
On the hour, Ahli doubled their advantage. Khalil provided the finish when he headed home Everton Ribeiro’s corner.
The hosts had chances thereafter but could not supply the finishing touch, before Papa Waigo halved the deficit for Kalba in stoppage time.
Nevertheless, the east coast club were swatted aside, clearing Ahli’s road to redemption. This year’s Super Cup winners now stand two matches from another showpiece event.
They will expect to clamber closer to that destination when the President's Cup reconvenes on May 23, given their quarter-final opponents, Dubai club, reside one division below.
Ahli must maintain focus, though, as the quarter-final encounter comes sandwiched between the Asian Champions League double-header with Al Ain where another last-eight berth is up for grabs.
Ahli should remain cautious, for the President’s Cup is their most realistic hope of hardware.
Last season’s heartache still rankles, particularly since it blotted a previously unblemished record. From nine finals, Ahli have hoisted the trophy eight times, a record they share with Sharjah, the most recent triumph in 2013.
With Al Wahda and Al Jazira eliminated – both capital clubs were upset last night – Ahli could begin to believe their name is on a ninth President’s Cup. It is early days, but they have knocked the initial obstacle out of their way.
Al Jazira crash out to Ajman
Al Jazira’s defensive woes came back to haunt them one final time this season as an inability to hold a lead resulted in a 3-2 home loss to Ajman on Thursday.
Ajman, who were relegated from the Arabian Gulf League (AGL), turned around a 2-1 half-time deficit and won on Driss Fettouhi's 20-yard free kick in second-half stoppage time. Rafael Crivellaro gave Ajman an early lead and, although Mirko Vucinic struck twice to put Jazira ahead, Boris Kabi equalised with 20 minutes to go.
In Al Ain, a rampant Asamoah Gyan scored four goals as the AGL champions ran out 5-0 winners over Division 1 side Dibba Al Fujairah. Miroslav Stoch scored Al Ain’s other goal.
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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