Bitter rivals Al Ain, Al Ahli share points in ‘UAE derby’
al ain — With just a couple of hours left to 2016, there was still the small matter of a rearranged Arabian Gulf League fixture to be played out. But it was the UAE’s ‘El Clasico’ — Al Ain vs Al Ahli.
And it was never short of drama.
It has been that way almost every time these two sides square off on the pitch.
And at packed and noisy Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain on Saturday night, The Boss and the Red Knights traded punches.
Al Ahli lost a man, their goalkeeper Majed Naser, after a headbutt on Al Ain striker Caio, with 25 minutes still left to play.
A little later, the Garden city club thought they had this in the bag following Caio’s header. But then, the Red Knights put the numerical disadvantage behind them to level it through Habib Al Fardan and ensure that it ended all square.
For all the hype that such a fixture brings, it was a slow-burning start to the contest with both sparring but none getting a clear and solid punch.
A freekick each for either side were the only things that transpired in the opening 10 minutes.
Al Ahli’s Ismail Al Hammadi was allowed to lurk dangerously with the ball inside the box before Lee Myung Joo intervened.
Then, Bandar Al Ahbabi asked questions but his shot lacked the bite to trouble Majed Naser, after Omar Abdulrahman had pulled the strings in midfield. But the first real attempt though came on 19 minutes when Al Ahli frontman Ahmed Khalil unleashed a superb freekick but goalkeeper Khalid Eisa went airborne to make a fine save.
In between, Abdulaziz Haikal was lucky to get away with just a yellow card after an ugly tackle from behind on Caio.
Half an hour into the game, Al Ahli lost Waleed Hussain to an injury and on came Walid Abbas.
Al Ain came close with four minutes left in the half but Caio’s deflection off an Omar Abdulrahman shot was dealt with by Naser. Al Ain had a flurry of sorties following the break with Omar Abdulrahman spraying his left-footer wide, soon after the restart, after which Ismail Ahmed’s header was tipped over the cross bar by Naser. A little later, Caio’s shot just whizzed over the cross bar after a pass from Omar Abdulrahman.
Things got worse for Al Ahli after Naser was given a direct red card for head-butting Caio and Saif Yousif took over the gloves.
And Yousif was put into action straight away with the goalkeeper made to fend off Mohanad Salem’s bicycle kick from close quarters.
Al Ain still found a way with Bandar Al Ahbabi whipping an inch perfect cross from the right and Caio sent a fine header home.
But then, Al Ahli cancelled that out with Habib Al Fardan tapping home the rebound after Ahmed Khalil’s attempt was blocked by Yousif, eight minutes from time.
james@khaleejtimes.com