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Shenzhen stun Al Ahli to book semi-final ticket
Al Ahli had the upper hand but aside from a couple of speculative long range efforts from substitute Malek Al Hawasawi couldn’t translate their possession into goals, just as in the first leg. They were twice almost made to pay for their profligacy when, in the 67th minute, Wang Xinxin wastefully shot wide after beating the Al Ahli offside trap and again 12 minutes later when Yang Chen failed to get his header on target after getting to a corner kick before Al Bsisi. The blistering early pace had clearly taken its toll on the players and the tempo of the game dropped considerably as extra-time loomed. While a fluffed clearance from Li Jianhua caused a few flutters amongst the Shenzhen faithful, the regulation 90 plus the two additional minutes lapsed at 2-1 to the hosts and 3-3 on aggregate. Al Ahli kicked off the first period of extra-time knowing that if they scored then Shenzhen would have to score twice to go through but it was the home side that forced the early pressure, during when Al Ahli skipper Hussain Sulaimani picked up 95th minute. Worse was to follow three minutes later when Li Yi joined the AFC Champions League top scorers list when the striker, who has not scored for Shenzhen during their domestic campaign, controlled the ball, took past a floundering Al Bsisi and slotted home his fifth ACL goal from the tightest of angles. Two minutes into the second period Li Yi was denied his hat-trick when his header was blocked superbly by Al Bsisi, whose point-blank save meant that Al Ahli would still go through if they could find one more away goal, which almost came in the 111th minute when Fawzy Al Shehri’s downward header bounced over the Shenzhen bar. Al Ahli’s frustration was starting to show and their niggley fouls were playing in to the hands of Shenzhen as it only served to run down the clock but with one minute left to play Al Hawasawi could have one himself the freedom of Jeddah but his curling shot grazed the post and went agonizingly wide. But Shenzhen heroic progression to the semi-finals was marred by a moment of utter madness by Li Weifing when, having already conceded a free-kick in a dangerous position, picked up a second yellow card for kicking the ball away. But it mattered little to the Shenzhen fans as the party had already started in the stands.
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