This was a result which Al Ahli, their coach and players will cherish for years to come.
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From desolation to celebration in the 94th-minute flick of Kwon Kyung-won’s boot and deflection from Habib Fardan’s back, with it a historic first-ever appearance in the hallowed AFC Champions Final being secured.
They were two-goals up at half-time against heavyweights Al Hilal and cruising, before a second-half surrender appeared critical.
Buoyed by boss Cosmin Olaroiu, the players on the pitch and electrified masses in the Rashid Stadium-crowd never gave up hope, a 3-2 win on the night and 4-3 aggregate triumph being secured.
The banner in the stand read “Together We Can Reach The Impossible”. They truly achieved it Tuesday night.
A two-legged continental decider against China’s Guangzhou Evergrande or Japan’s Gamba Osaka awaits. After last night’s epic contest, Ahli will believe anything is possible.
They began with an assurance which would desert them. Rashid Stadium erupted with joy after 17 minutes, Lima – who else? – putting them ahead.
Strike partner Ahmed Khalil was played in beautifully by Fardan, his cross skidding through to the Brazilian striker on the back post to tap in his 12th goal in 10 appearances.
The two forwards then forced wonderful saves from stand-in Crescent goalkeeper Abdullah Al Sudairy, excelling thanks to Khalid Sharhili’s “amateur behaviour” which had seen him excluded.
But the 23-year-old was helpless at the end of the first-half, Ribeiro lobbing in from a delicate Ismail Al Hammadi pass.
Stung by an awful opening, Hilal boss Giorgos Donis switched from a 5-1-3-1 formation to a conventional 4-4-1-1 just before Riberio’s intervention.
— النـــادي الاهــــلي (@AlAhliClub) October 20, 2015
This proved decisive in a second-half blitz from his troops. With both the battle for possession now in their favour and the intangible worth of their experience from years of Asian success, they went for the kill and a second-successive final appearance.
Ahli’s midfield engine room of Fardan and Majed Hassan inexplicably wilted under the pressure like tigers losing their bite. The foundation provided by centre-backs Salmeen Khamis and Kwon turning into sand.
Summer addition Ailton followed up his header from the first leg’s 1-1 draw on 51 minutes to put his side back in the picture. Excellent centre midfielder Carlos Eduardo’s chip in from a half-cleared corner was wonderfully flicked on by skipper Saud Kariri, the Brazilian striker swivelling in an unstoppable low effort.
Ahli were wobbling, the 4-4-2 which served them so well at the start now criminally exposed. The coup de grace appeared to have been delivered in beautiful fashion just past the hour mark.
Al Hammadi’s looped header bobbled up 30 yards from goal, Eduardo’s sweetly-struck half volley arrowing into the top corner and putting his side ahead on away goals. Elation took over the summer buy from Porto, an emotion matched by the minority of Hilal supporters bedecked in royal blue and crammed into the corner.
Flop winger Oussama Assaidi was summoned from the substitutes’ bench by Olaroiu in reply to boost numbers in the middle, though the gesture was 20 minutes too late.
Not even Lima appeared capable of saving the day, a rushed header and turning strike missing the target.
This was all to turn on a Ribeiro free-kick at the death. Hilal failed to clear and South Korea utility man Kwon secured a place in Ahli lore.
