Al Ahli beats Sepahan to reach ACL semis

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (AP) A first-half brace from Amad al-Hosni helped Saudi Arabia's Al Ahli reach the Asian Champions League semifinals on Tuesday with a 4-1 win over easing past 10-man Sepahan of Iran.

After the teams played to a 0-0 draw in the first leg, Victor Simoes gave Al Ahli the lead when he converted a penalty in the 27th minute after keeper Reza Mohammadi was sent off for a foul on Taisir al-Jassim. Seven minutes later, al-Hosni doubled the lead before an own goal from Kamel al-Mor gave Sepahan fans some hope two minutes later.

But al-Hosni scored his second just before halftime to put the 1986 finalist on the brink of advancing, and Abdulrahim Jaizawi put the game out of reach with his goal in the 69th.

Updated October 2, 2012