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Persianleague
- - Jun 07, 2002
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Al
Ahli's Ali Karimi (on the ground) was marked closely by
Al Nasr defender Mohammed Khamis in their President's Cup
semfinal. © Gulf News
Gulf News - Adil Abdul
Aziz was the Al Ahli hero yesterday as he scored the
Golden Goal in the third minute of extra time to give
them a 2-1 win over Al Nasr in a hard fought match.
He took his club to the President's Cup Final which will
be held next Saturday in Abu Dhabi against the winner of
the Al AinAl Jazira second semifinals today at Al
Nahyan stadium.
Al Nasr defender Ali Saffar was responsible for the two
Ahli goals. Al Nasr squandered their early lead in the
first session. Al Nasr led 1-0 through Tunisian Maher
Kanzari who fired a rightfooter from 25 meters that
went straight to the left of Al Ahli custodian Ali Saeed
in 39 minute.
However Ali Karimi, who was marked by Al Nasr defender
Mohammed Rabie, slipped away from his marker on two
occasions which resulted in Ahli scoring their two goals.
The first goal was in the 68 minute when Karimi's
powerful shot bounced off Al Nasr keeper Mubarak Yaqoot
hands. Defender Ali Saffar lost concentration and
couldn't clear the ball away.
Al Ahli's speedy striker Faisal Khalil, who came in at
the beginning of the second session was quick to divert
the ball into the empty net.
The second error by Saffar was in the third minute of
extra time. He committed a foul on Ali Karimi at the edge
of the penalty area.
Saffar was penalised by the referee and that foul paved
the way for Al Ahli's Golden Goal.
The Ahli left wing back Adel Abdul Aziz curled a clever
free kick to the right of a hapless Yaqoot who was
following it with his eyes without any attempt to save it
and that was the Golden Goal which took Al Ahli to Zayed
Sports City Stadium to play the final.
Al Nasr were the better side in the first session and the
first 15 minutes of the second session. Al Nasr coach
Ahmed Khorshid made unjustified changes when he took out
dynamic midfielder Khalid Khamis and skillful striker
Mohammed Ibrahim.
He also returned Qazim Ali to mark Al Ahli play maker
Salim Khamis. He lost Qazim's swift moves in the right.
The exit of the two players cost him dearly when Al Ahli
dominated the match in the last 25 minutes. Al Ahli
scored the equaliser and lost many chances. However Al
Nasr defenders Mohammed Khamis and Mohammed Rabie stood
rock solid infront of Karimi who was marked closely by
Rabie.
Mohammed Ibrahim could have made it 2-0 for Nasr in the
54 minute when he went past Ahli defenders, but was
unlucky to see his shot went near the post. Al Ahli's Ali
Karimi was denied by Al Nasr cross bar in the 82 minute
when his free kick hit the bar.
The Al Ahli supporters went frenzy after Adil Abdul Aziz
scored the Golden Goal. They crossed the short distance
between the Shabab Club, venue of the match, and their
club in a huge march.
Some on their feet and others in their cars jubilant with
their team reaching the final. Al Ahli's Ali Karimi (on
the ground) was marked closely by Al Nasr defender
Mohammed Khamis in their President's Cup semfinal. ©
Gulf News
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