Nine-man Al Ain held to a draw by Sharjah
dubai — Nine-man Al Ain were held to a thrilling 3-3 draw by basement dwellers Sharjah in an illtempered Arabian Gulf League fixture at the Hazza bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain on Saturday night.
Eisa Ahmed had given Sharjah the lead on 26 minutes but Al Ain cancelled that out through Amer Abdulrahman on 36 minutes.
Sharjah retook the lead on 58 minutes but Al Ain, who were down to 10 men, following captain Mohanad Salem’s sending off on 42 minutes, rallied through Japanese midfielder Tsukasa Shiotani.
Swedish international Marcus Berg thought he had scored the winner five minutes from time but Sharjah ended the game with a draw after Vander Viera tucked in the penalty in the fifth and final minute of stoppage time.
Berg too was sent off on 86 minutes. Al Ain are tied on 14 points with leaders Al Wasl, while Sharjah, who are yet to win this season, came away with their third draw.
Al Ain’s Douglas had a couple of chances early on but the Brazilian missed the target and was also denied by the visiting goalkeeper Ahmed Juma.
Douglas headed one over from close range on seven minutes and then saw his fierce shot punched away by Juma, a little later. Al Ain embarked on another move on 16 minutes but Marcus Berg was to head Ahmed Barman’s chip wide of the post, following a throw in.
A minute later, Sharjah came close at the other end when Eisa Ahmed fired in a dangerous cross from the right. But Al Ain captain Mohanad Salem headed it away for a corner before Welliton Soared could get to it.
Ahmed Barman tested Juma with a long ranger on 25 minutes but the shot stopper showed good reflexes to thwart it and push it away for a corner. Mohamed Ahmed headed in the corner by Juma was at hand again to deny Al Ain.
The Al Ain defence and their goalkeeper Khalid Eisa were caught by surprise on 26 minutes after Eisa Ahmed latched on to a long ball from the middle and chipped a fine left-footer from the right. It was supposed to be a cross but it curled in, rattled the inside of the far post and nestled into the net.
But Al Ain hit back on 36 minutes with Amer Abdulrahman volleying it home after Caio’s shot following a corner had ricocheted off Berg.
Al Ain were down to 10 men on 42 minutes after Mohanad Salem was sent off after he lost balance while tailing Soares and brought him down.
And in the two minutes of time added on, Alhasan Saleh had a crack from the left but Eisa managed to hold on.
Berg came up with twin attempts after the break but his header was pushed away Juma after substitute Bandar Al Ahbabi had fed him from the right, on 47 minutes. A minute later, Berg’s curling freekick just whizzed past the left post.
james@khaleejtimes.com