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AFC Champions League: Dubai's Al Ahli unfurl masterclass against Al Taawoun

Al Ahli kept their hopes alive of qualifying for the AFC Champions League Round of 16 by outclassing Saudi Arabia's Al Taawoun on Tuesday night.
The Red Knights, runners-up in the continental competition two years ago, ran out 3-1 victors in the Group A fixture at the King Abdullah Stadium in Buraidah, Saudi Arabia, thanks to a Makhete Diop brace and a moment of brilliance from Everton Ribeiro.
Al Ahli's second win in four games took them to the top of the table with seven points, ahead on goal difference to Esteghlal of Iran, who too have seven points. Esteghlal had had a chance to push clear at the top but were held to a 1-1 stalemate by PFC Lokomotiv in Tashkent, earlier in the day.
Al Taawoun had started brightly with a couple of forays through midfielder Abdulrahman Al Barakah and French striker Alassane N'Diaye. But a slow-burning Al Ahli sparked into life as the game worn on. Despite being severly depleted by injuries to their roster and only being able to play two foreigners in striker Diop and playmaker Ribeiro, the Red Knights showed their class and just why they had reached the final of the competition in 2015.
After frontman Ahmed Khalil had flashed over the cross bar earlier, Ribeiro, Khalil and Abdulaziz Haikal combined for a neat move down the right. But Al Taawoun defender and captain Ricardo Machado headed Haikal's cross to safety before Diop could get to it.
Al Ahli were getting a foot in after the early Al Taawoun dominance and Diop carried that on with some neat footwork after darting down the right. But the Senegalese striker shot his effort over the cross bar.
Khalil then asked questions with a threatening freekick from the left by Al Taawoun goalkeeper Fahad Al Shammari managed to keep it away.
The Red Knights were not to be kept goalless for long and they broke the deadlock through Diop, who deflected Salmin Khamis' header off a freekick from Ribeiro.
A little later, Khalil again saw his freekick from the left, pushed away for a corner.
Al Taawoun had a golden chance to get back in it after midfielder Jehad Al Hussein was brought down by Walid Abbas inside the box. But Al Ahli shot stopper Majed Naser was spot on in judging Jehad Al Hussein's spot kick and made a brilliant save.
After that threat, Al Ahli added cushion to their lead with Ribeiro curving his freekick from a tight angle, the ball hitting the inside of the post and going in.
Jehad Al Hussein put aside the disappointment of that missed penalty and came close with a foray from the left. But Naser, who initially fumbled with the collection, made amends.
Diop then got his second of the night by tucking it in after Khalil's pass from the right.
Al Taawoun got a consolation goal through N'Diaye, who scored from a penalty.
james@khaleejtimes.com
 
GOALS & CARDS: 
Al Taawoun (KSA) 1
(Goal: Alassane N'Diaye 63. Yellow card: Naif Mousa 37)
Al Ahli (UAE) 3
(Goals: Makhete Diop 37, 59, Everton Ribeiro 45)