Cup victory to give Al Ahli new fizz

Manager Quique Sanchez Flores wants Al Ahli's Etisalat Cup triumph to act as a springboard to further success for the club, but it remains to be seen under whose leadership this will be achieved. Al Ahli won their first silverware since 2009 with a 5-3 penalty shootout defeat of Ghusais rivals Al Shabab at Al Nasr's Maktoum Stadium on Monday night. Tied 1-1 after 90 minutes — following Keiza's ninth-minute header for Al Shabab and Grafite's 72nd-minute penalty equaliser — the two teams remained deadlocked even after 30 minutes of extra time. Luis Jimenez, Achille Emana, Ahmad Ali, Grafite and Bashir Saeed all converted penalties for Al Ahli and Shabab never recovered after their first from Adel Abdullah was saved by Obaid Taweela.Keiza, Azizbek Haydarov and Eisa Mohammad scored the rest, but Saeed's successful effort put the title out of Shabab's reach. Finding solutions Spaniard Flores, who only joined Al Ahli last November, said: "This is a moment to celebrate, not to speak about the future. But we will speak inside the club to find solutions looking ahead. "Whether that will be with me or without me, it's very important to sort this situation because Al Ahli is at a point now where it should start to go up [progress]. I think this is very important. "This should be a point from which we can start a different situation, to change. The last piece of good news was the league win three years ago. From this moment to three years ago is too much time to [win] just one title. "We have to set higher goals and think about what's the best idea to improve the club. Forget about the coach, forget about the players, good ideas are the most important thing. And this is a point from which we can go up in the future of the club." Flores added: "Renewing my contract doesn't depend on this final. My idea is very clear to wait and think in a sporting way about what the future of the club is. I'll think well about this season and think well about next season. "If I'm able to improve the team, I don't know. I have to think and I have 20-25 days to think. But at this moment I chose to think about the group, the players, inside the club and about the fans who have come here to enjoy this victory." Al Ahli chairman Abdullah Al Naboodah had waved off concerns about Flores' hesitancy in signing their recent offer of a contract extension, telling press that signing before a cup final was a bad omen. Apparently Flores had signed an extension at Atletico Madrid after he won the Uefa Cup, but lost the Copa Del Rey final soon after, blaming it on his decision to sign on the dotted line. But Flores, who has been linked with a host of top European clubs, could also be looking for a better offer.