Cosmin Olaroiu has stressed the importance of scoring an away goal in Iran as Al Ahli try to put one foot into the AFC Champions League semi-finals.
Ahli take on Naft Tehran in the first leg of the quarter-finals as the sole UAE team left in the competition and appearing in the knockout rounds for the first time.
For Ahli, the competition provided some welcome respite from a dismal 2014/15 domestic campaign, which saw them meekly surrender their Arabian Gulf League title to Al Ain.
The Red Knights, however, head into the first instalment of their last eight clash buoyed by an 8-1 thrashing of Fujairah on the opening day of the new AGL season, and head coach Olaroiu is again hoping his team can find the net tonight.
“It’s a game of 180 minutes. We have to be careful and take into consideration there is a second game, but we play any game to win and of course the most important thing will be to score,” said the Romanian last night.
“We expect a difficult match and we hope to get the result that will help in the second game.”
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Naft have made a poor start to their own domestic campaign, drawing three and losing one of their first four Persian Gulf Pro League games – although Olaroiu is not reading too much into that.
“They have made some changes, have clear tactics and a way to play and do it well. We expect Naft to play better than they did in their first games,” added the 46-year-old.
The Red Knights beat Al Ain in an all-UAE last 16 clash in May on away goals and former Benfica star Lima, who scored two goals in the Fujairah rout on his Ahli debut, is also hoping for a good result in northern Iran.
“I expect a tough game but we are prepared for this match. Our aim is to get a good result and finish the job back home,” said the 32-year-old Brazilian striker.
Naft manager Ali Mansouryan is wary of the threat Ahli present up front, but is hoping a vociferous crowd at the Azadi Stadium will help his team.
“It is a difficult game for us. Al Ahli will play to win and have strong strikers so we have to concentrate,” said the 43-year-old. “We have the fans’ support. Against Ahli Jeddah [in the last 16], 17,000 were in the stadium.
“It was a positive thing and we hope to see them tonight also.”
There are no injury concerns for Olaroiu, but goalkeeper Majed Nasser is serving a six-match ban following an altercation with a photographer on Ahli’s last visit to Iran against Tractor Sazi in the group stages on match day two.
