Abu Dhabi: Al Ahli’s double dreams evaporated in the Al Ain heat on Friday, after Ali Mabkhout’s hat-trick for Al Jazira condemned them to a 3-2 defeat in the first President’s Cup semi-final.
A turgid encounter played in temperatures reaching the high 30s was only illuminated by Mabkhout’s brilliance, while the Arabian Gulf League champions Al Ahli were well short of their imperious best.
On paper, the Red Knights should have cruised to victory at the Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium, as they finished 29 points above Henk ten Cate’s seventh-place side in the league.
But Al Ahli, perhaps feeling the effects of a long and arduous season and suffering due to the punishing conditions, were strangely listless.
Al Jazira were little better, except for the majestic Mabkhout, whose three goals made it an exceptional 29 for 31 in all games this season.
Al Jazira will now face Al Ain or Bani Yas, who will clash in the second semi at Al Jazira’s Mohammad Bin Zayed Stadium this evening, in the final.
Mabkhout put Al Jazira ahead in the 15th minute, lashing in after the newly crowned Arabian Gulf League Goalkeeper of the Year, Majid Nasser, spilled Thiago Neves’ free-kick straight to him.
The UAE striker then went close himself, curling a free-kick just wide of the post, while at the other end Ahmad Khalil forced Ali Khaseif into a reflex save with a rasping drive.
Khalil then won a controversial penalty for his side, producing an exaggerated dive after minimal contact between him and Sultan Al Suwaidi, and Mousa Sow sent Khaseif the wrong way from the resultant spot-kick.
Invigorated by their fortunate equaliser, the Red Knights could have snatched the lead when Everton Ribeiro skewed wide after latching on to Ciel’s delightful flick.
The predatory Mabkhout then re-established Al Jazira’s lead, heading in Park Jong-woo’s free-kick after 36 minutes.
Nasser then produced a smart stop to deny Mabkhout his hat-trick, while Al Ahli could only respond with two off-target efforts from Sow and Khalil.
Lucky escape
Al Ahli started the second half with far more purpose and could have levelled shortly after the break, only for Ciel’s effort to be ruled out for offside.
But after 56 minutes, Al Jazira made it 3-1 when Mabkhout played a one-two with Jong-woo and dinked the ball into the net over Nasser.
Mabkhout was later lucky only to receive a booking after petulantly slapping Salmin Khamis to the ground.
But apart from that flashpoint, there was little to excite the crowd, although Sow set up a grandstand finale after he prodded in his second goal of the game following a goalmouth scramble three minutes befor the end.
An agonisingly lengthy stoppage period ensued for Al Jazira, but the Pride of Abu Dhabi survived and then celebrated wildly.
A weary Al Ahli, meanwhile, were left dejected.
