Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League finalist Al Ahli Dubai FC failed to reap benefits from its home advantage against Guangzhou Evergrande, leaving Dubai's Rashid Stadium goalless and keeping the suspense high for the second leg in China when the two teams encounter again on November 21.
Both teams started the match motivated and dynamically amid good weather with temperatures around 25 degrees Celsius in the Gulf Arab emirate. But Al Ahli failed to expose the Chinese Super League champions' weaknesses, as Al Ahli coach Cosmin Olaroiu hoped as he told the media before the match.
Al Ahli goalkeeper Ahmed Mahmoud was the man of the match on Al Ahli's side, especially when he stopped Guangzhou taking the lead after 25 minutes when Zheng Zhi took a volley relatively undisturbed and aimed the ball at Al Ahli's goal.
Guangzhou captain Zheng Zhi and substitute Yu Hanchao also failed to crack Mahmoud's "home" in two breathtaking situations.
Evergrande's goalie Zeng Cheng was less busy but had to interfere several times, in particular when Al Ahli midfielder Ismail Al Hammadi tested him in the first half.
Al Ahli played 10 men following the late red card for Abdulaziz Haikal. Full-back Haikal was sent off the field after a hassle with striker Gao Lin in an off the ball incident in the 85th minute.
Guangzhou coach Scolari did not hide his discontent with the goalless first half. The Brazilian star coach sent midfielder Zheng Long after the first 45 minutes to the changing rooms and replaced him with striker Gao Lin joining Elkeson in attack.
Scolari, also felt forced to replace Goulart later who suffered from injury, with the Brazilian replaced by Yu.
Albeit Guangzhou outnumbered the Arabs by one player, the Chinese failed to bring the first leg victory home after 90 plus 4 additional minutes.
Olaroiu's move to replace Ribeiro with Ossaidi in the 89th looked more like damage control than a trial to turn the game. Al Ahli captain Khalil was also sent off, for him came Humaid.
With the draw, Guangzhou Evergrande's chances rose to win its second AFC Champions League title in three years.
The decisive second leg will take place on November 21 in Guangzhou, the capital of China's Guangdong province. The winner of the game will be crowned champion of the 34th edition of Asia's premier football tournament organized by the AFC.
