For Al Ahli, there is no time like the present.
A generally dreadful 2014/15 campaign did at least bring progress in the Asian Champions League. With memories of last season’s domestic woes slowly fading, coach Cosmin Olaroiu’s men are now reaping the benefits of their continental progress.
Tonight, fresh from a wonderful start to their Arabian Gulf League campaign, the club will be eyeing a win in the first leg of their Asian Champions League quarter-final against Naft Tehran.
Ahli may be in uncharted territory, as they were when they defeated rivals Al Ain in the last 16 in May, but the good news is that the team who finished third in the Iranian league last season are even less experienced than they are, with this being their first participation in the competition.
What is more, Naft Tehran are struggling for form.
Ahli’s trip to Tehran could not have come at more opportune time. Though Naft Tehran came close to winning the Iran Pro League title in their previous campaign, they have yet to win domestically this season. Draws against Tractor Sazi and Saba Qom, a loss to Siah Jamegan and a 3-3 draw with Malavan last Wednesday have left them 12th in the table.
No doubt Alireza Mansourian’s team will provide formidable opposition, as Iranian clubs typically do in this competition. Ahli, however, can enter the clash with the confidence of a team on top of their game.
A week ago, Olaroiu's men kicked off the Arabian Gulf League with an 8-1 thrashing of Fujairah, with Ismail Al Hammadi scoring three goals and Brazilians Everton Ribeiro and Rodrigo Lima two each. Ahmed Khalil also scored.
One away goal in Tehran would be welcome, but the Romanian has spent the week since the AGL opener preaching caution against complacency. No doubt, too, the memory of an away loss to another Iran side, Tractor Sazi, in the group stages, will still be fresh in the memory.
Olaroiu and his players know that Naft Tehran’s defence will hardly be as charitable as was Fujairah’s, and the hosts have yet to lose a home match in this year’s Champions League.
Yet the three goals conceded in their last league game indicate a team yet to click into form this season. Ahli can also take heart from Al Ain’s performances against the Iranian outfit in the group stages, with Zlatko Dalic’s men managing a 1-1 draw in Tehran before comfortably winning 3-0 at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium.
A score draw would be a positive result to take back to the Rashid Stadium but, considering the circumstances, Ahli should aim even higher.
It is not often that a club from the UAE travels to Tehran as favourites, and Ahli have a chance to take early control of this tie.
akhaled@thenational.ae
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