Everton Ribeiro scored six minutes after coming on as a substitute against Al Dhafra as Al Ahli secured the point necessary to qualify for the Arabian Gulf Cup semi-finals.
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In the battle of the Western Knights and the Red Knights, the diminutive Brazilian connected with Asian Player of the Year Ahmed Khalil’s free-kick early in the second half to earn a 1-1 draw and send Cosmin Olaroiu’s side into the last four in second place behind Group A winners Al Wasl and continue their fine start to the season.
It was a fourth draw in six AG Cup games for the Red Knights following just two wins, and they scraped into the last four on goal difference ahead of reigning champions Al Nasr.
Ahli secured a place in the last four thanks to their 2-0 triumph over the Blue Wave in the competition back in October. Ahli and Wasl will be joined by Group B duo Al Shabab and Al Wahda in the last four, with the knockout ties to be played in the new year.
Olaroiu’s men did it the hard way at Hamdan bin Zayed Stadium, coming from a goal behind against the Western Knights. Mohamad Kwid, who replaced Frenchman Laurent Banide as Dhafra head coach earlier this month, saw his side take the lead in the 36th minute from a beautiful counter-attack.
The hosts broke from an Ahli corner with Abdullah Abdulqader making a fine run before sending an inch-perfect pass through for Hamad Al Ahbabi to flick a beautifully composed finish past Majed Nasser in the visiting goal.
The striker was asking more than a few questions of the Red Knights defence and he almost added a second minutes later as he benefitted from a mix-up between Habib Fardan and Salmin Khamis. They both went for the same ball but the latter recovered to deflect Al Ahbabi’s effort and Nasser’s fingertip save turned it over the crossbar as the Western Knights had the Red Knights rocking.
Trailing and needing a goal to earn at least a draw, Olaroiu acted accordingly at half-time, the Romanian throwing on his big gun Brazilians after the break.
Ribeiro and Rodrigo Lima were sent on in place of the ineffective Nawaf Mubarak and Hassan Abdulrahman and it was Ribeiro who made an instant impact.
The 26-year-old arrived right on cue to meet Khalil’s centre, sliding home a finish under Ali Alamir to make it 1-1 in the 52nd minute for his maiden goal of the AG Cup and his 10th goal in all competitions this season.
There was to be no late onslaught though as a dull game petered out to its drab finale, Ahli unable to turn one point into three but content to qualify for the semi-finals.
