BOSS KEEPS DREAM ALIVE
Al Ain made it 14 home wins in the AFC Champions League by beating Al Hilal 2-1 in Group D match at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium on Monday night.
Marcus Berg converted two first-half spot kicks as Al Ain finally battered the Saudi opponents. The ‘Boss’ had failed to beat or score against the Saudi powerhouse in previous three encounters. And on the night, Al Ain were determined to rewrite stats and not just score but take three points too.
Al Ain’s Omar Abdulrahman set the ball rolling with a leftfooter in the opening minute but Al Hilal’s keeper Ali Al Habsi was up to the task. Al Hilal responded immediately with Fahad Al Rashidi’s poser from outside the box but keeper Khalid Eisa easily kept it in under control.
Al Hilal kept pushing with Moroccan star Achraf Bencharki threatening to score with each move. In the seventh minute, the goal came through a free kick. Mohammed Al Burayk shot to the left corner to make it 1-0.
After the initial setback, Omar and Berg began some lovely moves to sneak into the game. In the 20th minute, the duo produced a decent attempt on goal but was saved by Al Habsi.
Al Ain’s persistence paid off as Omar was awarded a spot kick. However, Al Hilal’s Omani keeper judged Amoory’s intentions perfectly and averted any damage. By now, Al Ain had begun to impose authority through the likes of Caio, Berg and Omar constantly threatening Al Hilal goal.
Omar was tightly marked and drew another penalty after being fouled by defender Ali Al Bulayhi. This time though it was Berg who stepped up to take the penalty and his attempt was perfect, drilling the ball into the centre of the goal.
The half ended on desperate search for goal by both sides. And in additional time of first-half, Al Ain got another penalty as Rayan Yaslam was fouled. Berg did the formalities by depositing the ball into the right corner.
After the break, the match got intense with more tackles and fouls. Amid the melee, Al Ain continued to ask questions through Omar, Yaslam, Berg, Amer and Caio. Al Hilal keeper Al Habsi had a busy time keeping Al Ain attackers at bay. Al Hilal tried to change the momentum by bringing in Mohammed Kanno for Abdullah Al Zori. And Al Hilal came close with Nicolas Milesi’s shot from a difficult angle.
At the other end, Al Ain were unlucky not to have scored through a 69-minute counterattack as Berg’s effort crashed into the bar. And with 10 minutes to go, Berg was replaced by Ahmed Khalil.
It was nervous end to the match as Al Hilal’s Abdullah Ateef threatened with a long ranger and Kanno came close with two minutes to the whistle. The match was on the boil and Al Ain’s Mohammed Abdulrahman earned a second booking for a foul. Al Ain were down to 10 men for five additional minutes but held on to clinch a tough victory at home.
Al Ain now sit in second spot with seven points as group leaders Esteghlal thumped Al Rayyan 2-0 in Teheran.