Al Ahli strike late to secure AFC win

23:38 19/03/2014
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Heart-stopping win: Al Ahli have plenty of reasons to smile after their late win.

    Ismail Al Hammadi swept in a delightful finish with the final kick of the game to give a dogged Al Ahli their opening AFC Champions League win this season at Sepahan.

    Cosmin Olaroiu’s side were on the backfoot for much of the second half, and secured an unlikely victory when the substitute finished off a lightning counter-attack after collecting Grafite’s pass on the edge of the penalty box.

    Sepahan goalscorer Sergio van Dijk should have put the Iranians out of sight, but wasted a succession of glorious chances before Al Hammadi struck at the Fooladshahr Stadium.

    The result saw Ahli end a run of two-successive Group D draws, and climb into the last-16 qualification spots at the half-way stage.

    The visitors survived an early scare when the lively Mehdi Sharifi finished smartly, only for his attempt to be ruled out as Hossein Papi was adjudged to have crossed from an offside position.

    A then-drab contest was brought to life when UAE international Ahmed Khalil made the most of being given a few yards of space to fire in a sensational 35-yard drive that rocketed over goalkeeper Rahman Ahmadi.

    The spectacle did not improve immediately after the interval, as Ahli let their opponents dictate the play. Sepahan have pedigree in the competition after reaching the final in 2007, but have been in mixed form domestically, where they sit fifth in the Persian Gulf Cup table.

    Every time Zlatko Kranjcar’s men pushed forward, they were met with a red wall as Ahli showcased the nous that has given them the third-tightest defence in the AGL.

    That is, until Van Dijk was thrown on. After going close with a header, he then made the most of some lax marking from Sanqoor to equalise by swivelling in the box and unleashing an unstoppable low finish.

    He then almost doubled the lead two minutes later after jumping highest, only for his effort to be deflected to safety. Van Dijk was causing chaos at the back, and should have given his team the win their enterprise deserved.

    Much to the flagging Ahli’s relief, the Indonesia international first headed over when unmarked and then snatched at a bouncing ball.

    Spurred on by the reprieve, Al Hammadi took centre stage to give Ahli real hope of converting their domestic form into continental success.

    Recommended