Stronger second-half showing gives Olaroiu optimism

Opponents Guangzhou created the better of the chances at Rashid Stadium, although Al Ahli midfielder Ismail Al Hammadi was denied by visiting goalkeeper Zeng Cheng in the first half.

But Al Ahli, who had full-back Abdulaziz Haikal sent-off in the closing stages, now must travel to Guangzhou’s Tianhe Sport Centre Stadium in two weeks facing a tough task to emulate compatriots Al Ain, who won the inaugural AFC Champions League crown in 2003.

ACL 2015 Final 1st leg: Al Ahli 0-0 Guangzhou Evergrande

“It was a tough, difficult game. We know Guangzhou are very physically strong and unfortunately we started the game with a lot of pressure. In the last few days I had tried to take the pressure away from the players, but they felt it as this was the first time playing in a final like this. We did not play how we wanted as we played a lot of long balls to the strikers where they had an advantage,” said Romanian coach Olaroiu (pictured).

“We didn’t score, but we played better in the second half and we had more possession and kept the ball down and played how we wanted to play. I am happy and now we move to the decisive game in Guangzhou.

“I trust my players and I think we can find more space to score. It is a positive that we did not concede a goal in this game, that was not the target, but at least we have a place to start from for the second game.”

The draw did see Al Ahli extend their unbeaten streak in all competitions to 19 games, which includes eight outings in the AFC Champions League.

Al Ahli also won their quarter-final first leg in Iran 1-0 against Naft Tehran before claiming a 1-1 draw in their semi-final first leg against Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal.

“Of course Guangzhou tried to win, but we wanted to win as well,” added Olaroiu.

“Both teams will have pressure and we have to find a way to play better in the second game to use the positives from this game.”

Photo: WSG