Al Ahli short-handed for Asian Champions League

Al Ahli will be missing three key players through suspension for the Asian Champions League match against Nasaf Qarshi tonight, but a team official says they are not travelling to Uzbekistan as tourists and will fight for a positive result.

Ismail Al Hammadi, centre, will miss Al Ahli's Asian Champions League Group D match against Tractor Sazi due to suspension. Pawan Singh / The National

Al Ahli will be missing three key players through suspension for the Asian Champions League match against Nasaf Qarshi on Tuesday night, but a team official says they are not travelling to Uzbekistan as tourists and will fight for a positive result.

One of the missing trio, Ismail Al Hammadi, was one of the Arabian Gulf League champions' better players when they played out a 0-0 draw at the Rashid Stadium on March 18.

The winger is suspended after picking up a booking late in that match. Goalkeeper Majed Naser and defender Salmeen Khamis are also suspended.

While team director Abdulmajeed Hussain said the absence of the experienced trio would hurt the team’s chances, he said the players would do everything they could to keep Ahli’s slim chances progressing in the competition alive.

“We are facing a stubborn and powerful adversary, inside their own stadium, so we need to show high tactical discipline and fight for the full 90 minutes,” Hussain said. “But we have not come here for tourism or sightseeing.

“Ahli are here on a mission: to win three points and to uphold the honour of UAE football. So we will fight and do everything we can to get a positive result.”

Ahli are bottom of Group D with two points from three matches. Coach Cosmin Olaroiu, however, says the group is still wide open with “no big difference between the teams”, as he targets Ahli’s first win in this season’s competition.

“We are well aware that a win in this match is very important for both teams, so it will not be easy,” he said.

Follow us on twitter at @NatSportUAE