The National's Sport cover for the Wednesday, October 20 issue, featuring Al Ahli as they edged Al Hilal with a stoppage time winner to advance to the Asian Champions League final.
Dubai club Ahli were practically left for dead in the fourth minute of stoppage time, a 3-3 aggregate draw prepared to send Hilal to the final on away goals. But South Korean hero Kwon Kyung-won put home a chance in front of net to make Ahli the first club since Al Ain in 2005 from the UAE to contest for Asia’s highest club honour.
John McAuley writes of the scene at the Rashid Stadium in Dubai:
“Al Ahli: Asian Champions League finalists. Barely, beautifully, Asian Champions League finalists.
“It will no doubt take some time to sink in, scarcely believable that a club contesting the knockout stages for the very first time has made it to the verge of being crowned continental kings, but Ahli’s improbable dream is almost a reality.
“Kwon Kyung-won’s injury-time goal did it; outdid Al Hilal. From within touching distance of the showpiece, to down and out, to back again. An incredible match was granted a suitably remarkable finish.”
“Of course I’m happy mostly for my players; they are heroes for what they have done,” said Ahli coach Cosmin Olaroiu. “Nobody gave them a chance and now they are in the final. I told them just there that they don’t have to stop here.”
Concludes John:
“Ahli’s future looks bright. They are Asian Champions League finalists; only the second UAE club to boast such a claim. It was scarcely believable, but beautiful all the same.”
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