The Al Ahli dream comes to an end

It wasn't supposed to end this way but sometimes, life doesn't give one happy endings. At 12.57 a.m Tuesday morning, Al Ahli Dubai ceased to be a football club, their one last dream in tatters after suffering a chastening defeat to their Saudi Arabian namesake.
The Red Knights went down 3-1 to Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli in the return leg of the Round of 16 to make their exit from the AFC Champions League as well as a club, at the Rashid Stadium.
Goals from Taiser Al Jassam, Hussain Al Moqahwi and Saad Abdulameer Al Dobjahawe consigned the Dubai club to a heavy defeat. Substitute Asamoah Gyan pulled on back for the Red Knights, from a penalty.
But it was just a consolation, if anything, as it came in stoppage time and the game was done and dusted by then.
It was a painful end for a club which will be merged with Al Shabab and Dubai FC to form one entity called Shabab Al Ahli Dubai Club next season.
Nothing, absolutely nothing went right for the Red Knights who were second best to a superior Al Ahli side on the night.
Makhete Diop's sending off on 58 minutes and five bookings, in a way, summed up Al Ahli's night.
Al Ahli coach Cosmin Olaroiu termed it the "worst night" in their season. "In our season, maybe tonight was the worst night, unfortunately. It was a big disappointment for the fans, players, for everybody," Olaroiu said after the game.
"Unfortunately, we were totally absent. They were faster than us especially in the midfield. It was the first time we faced something like this. We didn't do what we should've done in the game.
The Romanian said that he hadn't expected such a result, especially playing at home.
"Of course, no and especially we don't really lose a lot of games at home. But we have to be realistic and say the opponents were better than us. We have to be honest," said the 47-year-old.
Olaroiu also wasn't sure of what the future held for him since the clubs have been merged for next season.
"Give me time to go through this phase and at the right time we will talk about it. There are a lot of things that need to change to be able to compete at a higher level," he said.
"I thank the players for the efforts they gave throughout the season. As a coach, this is the first time this season that I faced a situation like this. I've never faced a situation like this. It was a very tough season. To qualify from the group stages, this is the most we could have earned. Of course, the motivation was there to do more but there are situations like this.
"There have been situations where the team went the extra mile. People came, people went, all these changes that happened, honestly there was a time in the season I expected the team to collapse. And something like that happened," he added.
james@khaleejtimes.com
 

Majed Naser of Al Ahli UAE and Salman Mohammed Muwashair of Al Ahli Saudi DC in action during AFC champions league at Rashid stadium on Monday.