Al Ain at the top with win against Zob Ahan

Al Ain came up with an inspired performance to tame Iran’s Zob Ahan 3-0 in the Group C encounter of the AFC Champions League at the latter’s own den at Foolad Shahr Stadium, Esfahan yesterday.

With this crucial win, Al Ain has leapfrogged into the top of the standings ahead of Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli with nine points with a match against eliminated Bunyodkor remaining. Third-placed Zob Ahan will have to battle it out against Al Ahli to qualify.

Al Ain’s Colombian winger Danilo Asprilla put them in the lead in the 25th minute with a powerpacked right footer from the centre of the box after being set with a measured cross from Brazilian Caio.

After the switchover, ace mid fielder Omar Abdul Rahman made it 2-0 with a left-footed effort from outside the box. Then Mohammed Abdul Rahman took the wind completely out of the sails of Zob Ahan with a fine goal.

Wahda’s first win

Al Wahda rallied from a goal deficit to thrash Qatar’s Al Rayyan 5-1 to give themselves an outside chance of qualifying for the next stage from Group D yesterday at the Al Nahyan stadium.

Sergio Garcia opened the score for the visitors but Al Wahda clawed their way back into the match with a brace of goals from Mohammed Al Akberi and Balazs Dzsudzsak in the first half and later widened the lead with strikes from Sultan Salem, Sebastian Tagliabue and Khalil Ibrahim. This was the host team’s first win in the tournament.

Soon after the change of ends, a powerpacked volley from Sultan from the goalmouth off a free-kick made it 3-1. Tagliabue widened the lead to 4-1, and then three minutes from time, Ibrahim also scored.