The “best team in Asia” stands between Al Ahli and a landmark AFC Champions League final berth, according to coach Cosmin Olaroiu.

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Regional heavyweights Al Hilal await in the last-four after the Red Knights built on a one-goal advantage to claim a 3-1 aggregate triumph on Wednesday night, strikers Lima and Ahmed Khalil scoring for them.

The first leg at Riyadh’s imposing 62,685-capacity King Fahd International Stadium on September 29 will have great personal significance for the Romanian, who won the Saudi Professional League plus two Saudi Crown Prince Cups at Al Za’eem from 2007-09.

“Hilal are the best team in Asia,” Olaroiu said. “It will be a very easy game, no? I know them [Hilal], they know me. We have a special relationship.

“We will try our best to qualify into the final. They create pressure with the public. We cannot forget the support of the people today [at Rashid Stadium] and the effect it can have.”

The lack of panic caused by Vahid Amiri’s fortunate 50th-minute strike for the visitors to Dubai owed much to Khalil and summer signing Lima’s lethality.

The latter added to his first-leg header with a 30-yard screamer, while Khalil converted a cheeky spot kick. The pair have been utilised in a new 4-4-2 formation by Olaroiu, who stated his Brazilian recruit from Benfica was bringing the best out of his talented-but-previously inconsistent partner.

He said: “Lima was a player we needed and missed in the second part of last season. “Now, you see how he increases the level of Ahmed Khalil.

“Lima is very clever. We talk with him to do some things and increase the value of Khalil. Lima is our penalty taker but he let Khalil take it. We are happy for both of them.”

There were few gripes from engaging Yellow Ghosts boss Alireza Mansourian, who will now concentrate on raising his team from the Persian Gulf Pro League’s relegation zone.

He said: “Congratulations to Al Ahli. I am proud of my team, which contains so many young players. Whoever won today, can become Asian champions.”