His second-half hat-trick secured a pulsating victory at 10-man Al Shabab and sent his team through to April 1’s Arabian Gulf Cup final against Al Wahda.
Moody body language and just seven goals in 17 appearances had previously been exhibited in the UAE. At Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium, he turned into predator extraordinaire.
“We were able to create chances from counter-attacks but could not control the game,” Red Knights boss Cosmin Olaroiu said. “Overall, what is import is we won and made the final – this is very important for us.
“Moussa Sow played a very good game, but it is about the collective.”
The loss continues a disappointing 2015-16 for Shabab after last season’s GCC Club Cup success and third-placed, Arabian Gulf League-finish. In the aftermath, boss Caio Junior looked immediately to next month’s continental assignment.
He said: “It is very difficult to lose this game when my team played very well. Tactically, we were perfect and I am happy with them as I thought we deserved to go through into the final.
“This competition is gone but we have the AFC Champions League and President’s Cup.”
Watched on from the substitutes’ bench by new signing Khamis Esmail, who made his debut at the death, Ahli were initially unable to convert their superior top-flight form into dominance.
Sow’s bicycle kick went narrowly over, before lively Moldova forward Henrique Luvannor forced a fine low save from Majed Nasser at the other end.
The cagey match finally burst into life within a minute of the restart as the Hawks took the lead in beautiful fashion.
Chile playmaker Carlos Villanueva’s audacious back heel on the edge of the penalty area sent Brazil striker Jo clear to side foot in his eighth AG Cup goal since his July switch from Atletico Mineiro.
Sow began to steal the show on 71 minutes. UAE left-back Walid Abbas – one of three ex-Shabab players in Ahli’s XI – flicked on to the back post and the ex-Fenerbahce star was there to nod in on the line.
The Senegal international was involved again three minutes later as he was crunched on the touchline by Hawks right-back Mohammed Qassim, who received a second yellow card.
A shirt pull from Sow – who else? – saw a penalty awarded for the hosts, but Luvannor was denied by an excellent low stop from Nasser.
More pain followed for the forward. He was robbed of the ball within his own half, sparking a second for Sow as substitute Ahmed Khalil’s volley trickled towards him from Salem Abdulla’s fingertips to tap in.
A second-successive AG Cup semi-final loss seemed guaranteed as the ex-Lille man earned the match ball, rounding the goalkeeper from Brazil playmaker Everton Ribeiro’s ingenious through ball.
Shabab’s resolve was on show as Azizbek Haydarov struck from the penalty spot after his pass caused Jo to be felled by Nasser.
But with a man down, no further pressure could be exerted. Sow had finally shown his worth.
Ahli will now play Al Wahda in the final after they earlier overcame Al Wasl 2-1 thanks to goals from Sebastian Tagliabue and Jorge Valdivia. Fabio Lima pulled one back from the penalty spot late on, but it was not enough for the hosts.
