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Talented Ali Karimi of Al Ahli (left) leading an attack, with a Sharjah defender trying to stop him. Karimi scored a hat trick yesterday. © Gulf News

GulfNews - Al Ahli whipped Sharjah 4-1 in the President's Cup prequarterfinals at Al Maktoum stadium in Dubai yesterday. Al Ahli qualified to the quarters and will meet Emarat next Sunday.

Iranian gifted striker Ali Karimi was the hero for Al Ahli who scored a hat trick and made Sharjah defence look helpless. Moreover, Al Ahli played with 10 men after the referee showed red card to Mohammed Qassim in the 38th minute following an off the ball foul by him against Sharjah striker Razaq Farhan who was booked.

In the other matches played in the pre-quarterfinals yesterday, Al Nasr crushed Hatta of the second division 5-0. Moroccan striker Ahmed Bahja scored a hat-trick for Nasr in 58, 80, 89 minutes, with Issa Juma (penalty kick) in 35, and Ali Saffar 51 completing the rout. Now, Al Nasr will meet Ahli Fujairah in the quarterfinals of the second division.

Emarat club defeated Al Khaleej 2-1 with a Golden Goal scored in the extra time. Ahli Fujairah caused the biggest upset when they beat Bani Yas 3-2, also with a Golden Goal scored in the extra time.

Al Ahli began attacking from the first minute when Salim Khamis and Karimi lost two scoring chances. Iraqi Razaq Farhan responded for Sharjah with a powerful shot which Ali Saeed the Ahli keeper turned it to the corner.

The two teams attacked each others goals with Salim Khamis crossing the ball to Karimi near the far post, but Sharjah defender Ibrahim Ali headed it away before it reached Karimi's head.

Two scoring opportunities were lost by Razaq, whereby in 26 minutes his header went near the post and after one minute his right footer beat Ali Saeed and hit the Ahli upright.

Ali Karimi was unlucky to see his powerful shot bounced off the cross bar with the goal wide open infront of him in 29 minute.

Abdul Aziz Al Anbary scored first for Sharjah in 32 minute with a left foot drive that went like a bullet to the left of Ali Saeed. Karimi soon responded after three minutes when Rashid bin Mahmod put him through, Karimi went past a defender and placed the ball to the left of Tareq Mussabah Sharjah keeper.

Faisal Darwish who came in as a substitute at the start of the second session, saw his powerful attempt saved to the corner by Ahli custodian in 52 minute. Ali Karimi came again through a swift attack, he went past two defenders and crossed infront of the goal, Jasim Darwish Sharjah defender was unlucky to clear the ball into his own net scoring Ahli second goal in 55 minute.

Sharjah attacked through Al Assas, Razaq, Anbary, the latter went out injured and that cost Sharjah dearly.

Ali Saeed saved Razaq's header in the last moment before it entered in 60 minute. Sharjah defence tried to stop Ali Karimi with all the ways, but failed, they put him under an off side trap, but because he was fast, every time he broke through caused panic to Sharjah defenders and their keeper.

In 70 minute Adel Abdul Aziz of Ahli shot his the bottom of the post and returned to the keeper. After two minutes Ali Karimi scored the third, he went past three Sharjah defenders and their custodian before he lobbed the ball into the empty net.

Karimi was outstanding yesterday, he scored Ahli's fourth with an unstoppable right footer following an excellent cross by Salim Khamis in 77 minute. After the fourth goal, Sharjah players were frustrated by the heavy defeat, Faisal Darwish shot hit Ahli's cross bar in 85 minute, and his second attempt was tipped to the corner by Ahli keeper Ali Saeed.

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