Rahimi strikes as Al-Ain claims Asian Champions League lead over Al-Nassr

AL-AIN will take a 1-0 lead into the second leg of their Asian Champions League quarterfinal against Cristiano Ronaldo’s AlNassr next week after the side from the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) saw off the 10-man Saudi Pro League outfit on Monday.

Soufiane Rahimi’s 44th minute strike earned Hernan Crespo’s side a slender advantage for the home side, with former Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte ruled out of the return after his late sending off.

Referee Hiroyuki Kimura dismissed Mr. Laporte for violent conduct four minutes into added time following a tussle with Bandar Al-Ahbabi to bring a fraught end to a high-octane clash at a packed Hazza bin Zayed Stadium.

Al-Ain’s Paraguayan midfielder Kaku had seen his effort ruled out by VAR for a marginal offside call in the build-up, but with a minute remaining in the half the home side went ahead as Mr. Rahimi rounded off a flowing move.

Kaku held off the attentions of Aziz Behich to deliver a defence-splitting pass on the turn into the penalty area 30 yards from goal as a fast-arriving Mr. Rahimi cut in from the left to round the sprawling David Ospina and slot into an empty net.

Moments later Khalid Eisa denied Mr. Ronaldo an equalizer with a strong hand to keep out the Portuguese forward’s low effort to his right.

A disjointed second half came to life in the later stages, with Mr. Eisa denying Mr. Ronaldo again with 10 minutes remaining, the UAE international pulling off an instinctive save to block a shot from seven yards out. —