Dubai: Al Ahli defeated Al Ain 2-1 to take second place in group C and clinch the last berth in the etisalat Cup semifinals.
Al Ahli will join Al Wahda, Al Jazira and Al Ain who qualified top of their groups.
Al Ahli qualified for the semis as the second best team in the three groups.
Al Shabab, who were second in group A with nine points, were hoping that Al Ain would beat Al Ahli to deny their neighbours a berth in the semifinals.
Al Shabab supporters had been celebrating after Al Ain took a 1-0 lead in the first half through Sangahor in the 35th minute, but Faisal Khalil and Brazilian Bare's goals completed the fightback for Al Ahli.
Al Ain had mostly played their reserve players after clinching the top place in group C last week with 13 points.
Chilean attacking-midfielder Valdivia and Brazilian striker Diaz, as well as goalkeepers Moaataz Abdullah and Walid Salim, were absent.
In contrast, Al Ahli fielded a strong 11 led by Brazilians Cezar and Bare, along with Egyptian Hossni Abdo Rabo and Iranian Meddawdi.
However, they were missing the injured Mohammad Qasim and three other players who are currently away with the national team.
Despite the absentees, Al Ahli managed to defend well in the second half and maintain their narrow lead against the Al Ain attackers.
In the second match in group C, Ajman beat Al Nasr 1-0 at the Al Maktoum stadium. The goal was scored by Iranian Jawad Qazimian in the 66th minute.
Al Nasr had hoped to reach the semifinals by beating Ajman 4-0.
However, they stayed third in group C with six points while Ajman took fourth.
Al Nasr's coach German Frank Pajelsdorf played a number of reserves due to the absence of several key players.
He also gave chances to a number of youngsters, no doubt hoping to build a new team for the coming season.
Al Nasr have now lost in the President's Cup and etisalat Cup and have little hope in the professional league due to the huge difference in points between them and top of the table Al Jazira.
The etisalat Cup semifinals will be held on March 22 and 27.
