Abu Dhabi: Al Ahli showed nerves of steel and had a brace of goals by skipper Ahmad Khalil to thank after a thrilling 3-3 draw against arch-rivals Al Ain saw them storm into the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League on away goals at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium on Wednesday.
Trailing by a goal, Al Ahli coach Cosmin Olaroiu had to do change something.
Immediately after half time he brought on trump card Luis Jemenez and Al Ahli were transformed.
They pumped in three goals in double quick time to leave Al Ain shell shocked.
It all started after Salmin Khamis sneaked in a header from a corner to draw level for Al Ahli.
Even before Al Ain could recover from that blow, a buoyed Al Ahli hammered in another one – this time skipper Khalil latched on to a measured through ball from the right from Jemenez, blasting home with a low shot on the run.
Khalil doubled the lead after he scored from a rebound following a shot from Everton Ribeiro that was blocked by Al Ain custodian Khalid Eisa.
With the match slipping away, Al Ain pressed hard and they managed to reduce the margin to 3-2 through Asamoah Gyan's second goal of the night 10 minutes from time.
Substitute Raseed Eisa made it 3-3 with an injury time strike but Al Ahli it wasn't enough after the first leg between the two sides ended in a goalless draw.
Earlier in the first half, Al Ain started with a lot of purpose and they were rewarded within four minutes.
Mohammad Fayez made a mesmerising run through the Al Ahli defence from left and found Ghanaian striker Gyan with a diagonal ball.
Gyan, despite having his back to the goal, stopped the ball with his left foot and then took a shot on the turn to leave Al Ahli goalkeeper Ahmad Ashoori rooted.
Then Al Ain’s star midfielder Omar Abdul Rahman showed his class in the 25th minute when he floated in a brilliant cross from the axis.
So pinpoint was the delivery that all Congo recruit Jires Kembo-Ekoko had to do was tap the ball - in but he completely missed it.
Al Ahli went close in the 28th minute when Khalil tested Eisa with a breathtaking free-kick from 45 yards.
But the former was alert enough to punch it out.
Al Ain went into the break with a one-goal cushion but lost their way after the change of ends.
