Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Jeddah:Al Ahli will take on Ulsan Hyundai in the final of the 2012 AFC Champions League in Korea Republic on November 10 after Karel Jarolim's side handed two-time winners Al Ittihad a 2-0 defeat at the Prince Abdullah bin Faisal Stadium on Wednesday to advance with a 2-1 aggregate victory.
A goal in each half from Moataz Al Muta and Victor Simoes (Victor Simoes de Oliveira) secured Al Ahli's first trip to the AFC Champions League final since the competition's inception in 2002 and to their first final in a continental competition since 1986.
Al Ittihad led 1-0 from the first leg but were missing influential attacking midfielder Diego Souza (Diego de Souza Andrade) and Raul Caneda's side were to miss the composure the Brazilian brings in the centre of the pitch as Al Ahli dominated from the start.
There were barely seven minutes on the clock when Victor Simoes crashed his shot against the woodwork while just five minutes later the shaven-headed forward was sending another shot just off target.
Al Ittihad had dominated the first leg in front of their own fans at the same venue – the two clubs share the stadium – but with the Al Ahli fans backing the men in white, it was the Jarolim's side who looked the more menacing.
Al Muta caused consternation in the Al Ittihad defence on several occasions, forcing a fine save by Mabrouk Zaid in the 32nd minute while two minutes later Osama Al Harbi was called upon to clear a deflected shot off the goal line with Zaid beaten.
With barely a minute left in the half, Al Muta and Al Ahli claimed the reward they deserved to take the lead on the night and level matters on aggregate as the midfielder headed home Diego Morales' corner from the left after Naif Hazazi had inadvertently flicked the ball into his path.
The goal shook Al Ittihad and Caneda's side looked more purposeful in the early exchanges in the second half, with Hazazi turning the defence before shooting wide of the target.
With extra time looming, however, Al Ahli finally caught the Al Ittihad defence out once again in the 84th minute when Victor Simoes outpaced Al Harbi before smashing a left foot shot past Zaid to send the home fans into raptures and Al Ahli into their first ever AFC Champions League final.