TWO second half goals were enough for Saudi Arabian club Al Ahli to see off the challenge of Muharraq in the round of 32 first-leg match of the Arab Football Clubs Championship last night at Bahrain National Stadium.
Saeed Al Muwalled in the 65th minute and the team’s top scorer Omar Al Somah in the 83rd were on target.
The teams play the second-leg in Jeddah on September 24.
Muharraq, coached by Salman Shireeda, started the match with Sayed Mohammed Jaffar in goal along with defenders Ahmed Juma, Zeyad Al Derbali, Ibrahim Al Obaidly, Mohammed Al Bannai, midfielders Jamal Rashid, Isa Moosa, Mohammed Solah, Abdulwahab Ali, Abdulla Abdo and lone striker Ismael Abdullatif.
Muharraq were slightly better in the first-half as they came across a couple of chances to score.
Al Ahli had one good chance in the 44th minute when striker Omar Al Somah’s shot was well saved by goalkeeper Sayed Mohammed Jaffar.
In the second-half, Al Ahli went ahead in the 65th minute when Saeed Al Muwalled received a fine cross and found the target.
Muharraq made a number of substitutions, sending in Mahdi Abdullatif, Waleed Al Hayyam and Mohammed Al Shamsi.
But it did not help as Al Ahli sealed the match in the 83rd minute through striker Al Somah.