Asian Champions League: Al Ahli draw with Esteghlal to stay top of Group A

Al Ahli’s run into the knockout stages will have to wait.

Esteghlal's Leandro Padovani, left, in action with Al Ahli's Abdelaziz Sanqour (62) during their Asian Champions League match at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran, Iran, on April 25, 2017. Abedin TaherkenarShow more

Esteghlal 1-1 Al Ahli

Esteghlal: Rezaei 58’

Ahli: Sanqour 17’

Man of the match: Majed Naser (Al Ahli)

Al Ahli’s progression to the Asian Champions League knockout stages will have to wait, for what they hope only to be a few weeks, after the UAE champions were held to a 1-1 draw in the top-of-the-table clash against Esteghlal in Iran on Tuesday.

Runners-up in the 2015 competition, Ahli have advanced from the group phase only once before, in that romp to the final two years back, but they still have destiny in their own hands, perched on the summit of Group A with one match remaining.

They stay level on points with Esteghlal after sharing the spoils in Tehran, where the famous old Azadi Stadium teemed with fans and with rain.

Much to their credit, Ahli kept cool heads in the dual battle against opponents and the elements, gleaning what should prove a vital point.

Take care of Uzbekistan’s Lokomotiv at the Rashid Stadium in two weeks, and Ahli are through, winners of Group A to take their place alongside Al Ain in the last 16. The UAE’s two premier sides, great domestic rivals, are set for an extended stay in the continent’s premier club competition. Heck, they could even meet each other there.

Against Esteghlal, Ahli deserved a hard-earned point, even though their goal came from the most unlikely of sources. In the 17th minute, left back Abdulaziz Sanqour appeared somehow on the inside right of the Esteghlal penalty area, where he met Ahmed Khalil’s smart knock-down before squeezing his shot below Mehdi Rahmati in the home goal. Sanqour has been criticised in the past month for both his performances and his attitude when representing the UAE national team — some would say justifiably so — but here there could be no fault found. With only the goalkeeper to beat, the defender held his nerve commendably.

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Esteghlal had been relatively blunt until that point, and in truth were for much of the first half, when only Yaghoub Karimi’s free kick really tested Majed Naser. However, they emerged after the interval with much more snarl and snap, and soon had Ahli’s defence in a panic.

Then, just before the hour, they were level. The goal would have angered Ahli manager Cosmin Olaroiu, and understandably so, since Ahli were caught napping at an Esteghlal throw-in. Their slackness allowed right back Khosro Heydari to advance into the visitors’ final third and loop the ball into the area, leaving Kaveh Rezaei to rise unmarked and head down past Naser from close range.

From there, Ahli regained some composure and more of a foothold in the game, with Ismail Al Hammadi extending Rahmati with a low shot and Makhete Diop, otherwise anonymous, firing over from an angle. At the other end, Naser was forced to race off his line to thwart an Esteghlal attack. In the dying moments, the UAE goalkeeper did well to repel Rezaei’s long-range free kick as Esteghlal’s players crowded around him. Wearing the captain’s armband, Naser led by example throughout.

So Ahli’s run into the knockout stages will have to wait. They may have led and then surrendered their advantage at Esteghlal, but they should not be too disheartened. They remain in the box seat, with only that home tie with Lokomotiv to come.

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