Golden goal takes Al Ahli into final

Al Ahli's Ali Karimi (on the ground) was marked closely by Al Nasr defender Mohammed Khamis in their President's Cup semfinal. © Gulf News

Gulf News - Adil Abdul Aziz was the Al Ahli hero yesterday as he scored the Golden Goal in the third minute of extra time to give them a 2-1 win over Al Nasr in a hard fought match.
He took his club to the President's Cup Final which will be held next Saturday in Abu Dhabi against the winner of the Al Ain–Al Jazira second semifinals today at Al Nahyan stadium.
Al Nasr defender Ali Saffar was responsible for the two Ahli goals. Al Nasr squandered their early lead in the first session. Al Nasr led 1-0 through Tunisian Maher Kanzari who fired a right–footer from 25 meters that went straight to the left of Al Ahli custodian Ali Saeed in 39 minute.
However Ali Karimi, who was marked by Al Nasr defender Mohammed Rabie, slipped away from his marker on two occasions which resulted in Ahli scoring their two goals.
The first goal was in the 68 minute when Karimi's powerful shot bounced off Al Nasr keeper Mubarak Yaqoot hands. Defender Ali Saffar lost concentration and couldn't clear the ball away.
Al Ahli's speedy striker Faisal Khalil, who came in at the beginning of the second session was quick to divert the ball into the empty net.
The second error by Saffar was in the third minute of extra time. He committed a foul on Ali Karimi at the edge of the penalty area.
Saffar was penalised by the referee and that foul paved the way for Al Ahli's Golden Goal.
The Ahli left wing back Adel Abdul Aziz curled a clever free kick to the right of a hapless Yaqoot who was following it with his eyes without any attempt to save it and that was the Golden Goal which took Al Ahli to Zayed Sports City Stadium to play the final.
Al Nasr were the better side in the first session and the first 15 minutes of the second session. Al Nasr coach Ahmed Khorshid made unjustified changes when he took out dynamic midfielder Khalid Khamis and skillful striker Mohammed Ibrahim.
He also returned Qazim Ali to mark Al Ahli play maker Salim Khamis. He lost Qazim's swift moves in the right.
The exit of the two players cost him dearly when Al Ahli dominated the match in the last 25 minutes. Al Ahli scored the equaliser and lost many chances. However Al Nasr defenders Mohammed Khamis and Mohammed Rabie stood rock solid infront of Karimi who was marked closely by Rabie.
Mohammed Ibrahim could have made it 2-0 for Nasr in the 54 minute when he went past Ahli defenders, but was unlucky to see his shot went near the post. Al Ahli's Ali Karimi was denied by Al Nasr cross bar in the 82 minute when his free kick hit the bar.
The Al Ahli supporters went frenzy after Adil Abdul Aziz scored the Golden Goal. They crossed the short distance between the Shabab Club, venue of the match, and their club in a huge march.
Some on their feet and others in their cars jubilant with their team reaching the final. Al Ahli's Ali Karimi (on the ground) was marked closely by Al Nasr defender Mohammed Khamis in their President's Cup semfinal. © Gulf News