Al Sadd face uphill task against Al Ahli in last 16
DOHA, May 14, 2018 - Al Sadd face a tricky away encounter in Jeddah as they take on Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli in the second leg of the AFC Champions League Round of 16 match on Monday.
The Qatari side won the first leg 2-1 last Monday in Doha, but also conceded an away goal which could prove costly for them. The return leg will be played at King Abdullah Sports City and Sadd will have an uphill task to defend their one-goal lead.
Boualem Khoukhi netted twice in the opening 30 minutes to give Al Sadd a 2-0 lead at the interval last Monday, but Mohannad Aseri pulled one back just after the restart with a goal to ensure a nervy affair in Jeddah. Al Sadd head coach Jesualdo Ferreira was frustrated with the result at home and said it will be a difficult to match in Jeddah.
“This is not a good result. Al Ahli will be tough to play against in front of their fans, especially as they need just one goal to qualify. This is a tough for us and I am very disappointed," said Ferreira.
The Portuguese manager has plenty of experience of knockout football with European giants Benfica and Porto and he feels his side missed a trick in not putting the tie to bed.
Ferreira will be hoping his men can play without any fear in a stadium which is expected to be full packed in support of the home team. Sadd will welcome Pedro Correia to the starting XI after the defender sat out the first leg due to suspension. Ferreira believes Pedro's return will fill out the defensive loopholes that were exposed by Al Ahli. The Saudi team created 16 chances in the first leg, but managed only to convert one.
“We did not defend well. Pedro's return will be a good thing for us in the away game. I am not pessimistic, I'm realistic. The game in Jeddah is going to be extremely difficult," said Ferreira.
Sadd's fortunes will heavily depend on the performance of legendary midfielder Xavi. The former Barcelona star completed 64 successful passes, the highest number in the first leg and will have to marshal the midfield once again. Sadd faced little trouble qualifying to the knockout stages from Group C but were pipped to the top spot by Persepolis. Al Ahli, meanwhile, were unbeaten as they won four and drew two matches to qualify. It promises to be an enthralling affair.
Sadd are targeting a first last-eight appearance since 2014and remain the last team from West Asia to lift the continental title, when they were crowned champions in 2011. The Qatari side's domestic campaign came to a close over the weekend following a 0-1 defeat to Al Duhail in the Amir Cup semi-final to mean the AFC Champions League remains their last hope of rounding of their season with silverware.
Al Ahli, who welcome Salman Muwashar back from suspension, are aiming to advance to a second successive quarter-final. The Saudi side's best performance on the continent remains a runners-up finish in 2012. The hosts caretaker coach Fathi al-Jabal said: “We achieved our first objective of scoring a goal away from home. This could be of great importance in the return leg."
“It was a tough game between two good teams but we conceded the two goals in the first half. We came back in the second but luck was not always on our side."
Al Duhail in control
Meanwhile, QNB Stars League champions Al Duhail have one foot in the quarter-finals after they defeated 2016 runner-up Al Ain 4-2 in the first leg. The second leg will be played at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha tomorrow, Djamel Belmadi favourites to progress to the next round, thanks to four away goals.
Al Ain most likely have to post a three-goal winning margin in order to advance past a side who boast the best record on the continent in the 2018 campaign. Duhail have completed a domestic double by winning the league and Qatar Cup. And they are in for a treble by reaching the Amir's Cup final, beating Al Sadd in the semi-final.
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