Al Ahli made it a week to savour as they breezed into the President’s Cup final with a 2-0 win at Al Dhafra.
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The Red Knights entered the last-four tie on a crest of a wave, securing a club-first AFC Champions League quarter-final spot with a hugely-impressive 3-3 second-leg draw at Al Ain in midweek.
This confidence boost soothed any aches for the long trip to the western region to face the Arabian Gulf League strugglers, goals from Oussama Assaidi and red-hot striker Ahmed Khalil coming in either half to secure a 10th appearance in the decider of the UAE’s most prestigious competition.
Coach Cosmin Olaroiu has overseen a remarkable turnaround this month after a previously dismal 2014/15, with the potential victory at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium against Al Nasr also securing entry to the 2016 ACL.
Their progression to the decider never seemed in doubt at Hamdan bin Zayed Stadium on Saturday night.
The opener came from recalled winger Oussama Assaidi on 42 minutes, cutting inside in trademark fashion from the left to lash in his fourth goal since a winter move from Liverpool via a deflection. Khalil then could have doubled the advantage in quick-fire fashion, his dinked effort skipping just wide of the post.
The Red Knights remained in complete control after the break, their only concern a crunching tackle on UAE defensive midfielder Majed Hassan that left the 22-year-old momentarily crumpled in pain.
Ahli had to wait until five minutes before the final whistle before they could calm their nerves and double their advantage. Khalil latching onto a deft Habib Fardan header before lashing home his third goal in two games into the bottom corner after his heroics against the Boss on Wednesday.
