Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Dubai: Coach Alireza Mansourian was left ruing the absence of influential midfielder Iman Mobali as Naft Tehran exited the 2015 AFC Champions League at the hands of Al Ahli of the United Arab Emirates.
Mansourian’s side lost 2-1 in the second leg in Dubai as Al Ahli completed a 3-1 aggregate win to advance to the semi-finals and a meeting with last year’s beaten finalists Al Hilal from Saudi Arabia.
Former Iran international midfielder Mobali (pictured above) missed both legs of the tie through injury and Mansourian felt his absence was a key factor in his side’s exit from the competition.
ACL QF 2nd Leg: Al Ahli 2-1 Naft Tehran (3-1 agg.)
“Mobali’s one of the best players for me in Asia, one of the best midfielders,” said Mansourian. “He gives us a good rhythm with the young guys. He’s like a pendulum.
“The young players play the ball deep and back, so when he’s inside the game he can manage it, he’s the captain because he has played six or seven years in UAE.
“In this game he would have been very important and this was our bad luck. We lost him in training so for our team we had worked for free kick and corners perfectly. It was a good chance for the young guys and he can teach them, but he’s back next month for the first eleven.”
Al Ahli led by a goal from the first leg and extended their lead thanks to a fine long-range effort from Rodrigo Lima in the 26th minute before a penalty three minutes into the second half from Ahmad Khalil put the result beyond any doubt.
Vahid Amiri clawed one back for Naft Tehran in the 50th minute, but there was little the Iranians could do to deny Al Ahli their first-ever appearance in the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League.
“In the first half they played better, in the second half we played better and we almost scored three goals,” said Mansourain. “We didn’t get the luck. The penalty for Al Ahli was 50-50.
“But I am proud because I have so many young players 20, 21, 19, 24 and so the bad thing for the game was nothing. I say congratulations to Al Ahli. We lost today and they were better than us.”
After the defeat, Mansourian believes Al Ahli can go on and lift the title abd become the first club from the Emirates to win the continental crown since Al Ain in 2003.
“I said on Tuesday whoever wins today can be the champions and Al Ahli did very well today,” he said.
“We tried to win against them today, we didn’t take our chances in the second half but I think they have a good chance.
“They have to play in Riyadh first of all and then they are at home. I think (Cosmin Olariou) has a good idea and good luck to them. They did it to us and I hope they do it to Al Hilal.”
Photo: WSG